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Guide to Incentivizing Study Participation with Gift Cards

Whether it’s an academic study or a commercial focus group, it's critical to recruit and maintain the right audience to ensure statistical significance to support a hypothesis or represent a buying group. The most straightforward way to recruit and maintain that audience is through incentives.   

Research incentives can take many forms, like cash, digital gift cards, physical gift cards, or even merchandise. Consider the incentives compensation for the participants’ time. They are taking time out of their lives to provide the feedback and opinions that will drive the research study forward. As such, they deserve to be compensated.   

Your target compensation depends on the audience, such as students, lower income workers, skilled professionals or high-powered executives. Research participant compensation is a vital component of the research study design, but also needs to be considered carefully to retain the audience your study requires.   

Why Choose Gift Cards as Incentives?   

There are a variety of research incentives to choose from, so why are gift cards such a strong choice ? The answer is simple- they are delivered easily, adapt to different research settings, and have the universal appeal of cash with the added benefit of a more memorable experience.    

Gift cards are great incentives because they can be attributed to universally loved brands like Tar get , AMC Theatres , or DoorDash . This creates a memorable interaction with participants' favorite retail stores and services, empowering them to use their rewards for everyday spending or leisure experiences.  

Alternatively, the Engage2Reward™ Choice Card puts the power of choice in the recipient's hands, allowing them to allocate the gift card value to the brand or brands of their choosing in the Engage2Reward Platform. With over 250 digital brands in the Engage2Reward catalog, everyone can find something to love.  

Other options like merchandise or institutional credits are common research incentives, but they risk not holding the intended value for the recipient. If the recipient doesn’t want to or can’t use the research incentive provided, they feel as though they have provided their time and feedback for free, providing a poor participant experience. Additionally, the money spent on the incentives feels wasted by the research team.   

Gift cards present a minimal risk of this adverse situation because they are universally usable and hold value for anyone from a student to a high-powered executive when executed correctly. They are flexible in denomination, ensuring efficacy for any research budget.  

Types of Gift Cards for Research Participants   

One of the biggest variables for gift card incentive execution is the delivery of the reward. Will you send digital cards that arrive to an email or via a text message or will you hand someone a card as they exit the focus group room? There are two keys to identifying the right type of gift cards for your research study: knowing your audience and ensuring timeliness.  

Digital: If your research participants are tech savvy and accustomed to shopping and even banking online, digital gift cards will be welcomed and aligned with their regular consumer activities.   

Physical: For less tech inclined audiences such as older demographics, physical cards are the right choice. A tangible reward meets them where they are, rather than asking them to adopt technology for an individual incentive.  

Tailoring the delivery method to your audience can help avoid frustration and incentive abandonment, ensuring that participants feel adequately compensated for their time and effort.   

Benefits of Using Gift Cards in Research Studies   

As you design a research study, it's logical to build gift cards into your study as research participant compensation. By incentivizing participants, you can build a foundation of success for current research as well as future studies.  

Reducing Absenteeism: Incentives increase participation rates , motivating participants to arrive on time so your study runs smoothly and remains on-schedule.  

Participant Diversity: Distributing gift cards as incentives for participation in research studies also helps maintain diversity of study participants, ensuring a study make up that will support the needs of the research.   

Repeat Participation: A good incentive also supports high participant satisfaction ratings for the study experience, which helps your organization maintain a pool of happy study participants in the future.   

Network Building: Satisfied participants are also more likely to refer their own network, serving as ambassadors to your study by increasing your potential participant pool.  

Ease of Use: Gift cards represent a unique advantage over other research participant incentive options: ease of distribution and management. Gift cards provide the flexibility to choose a distribution method and budget that will work for your audience and for your organization.    

Choosing the Right Gift Card Platform   

When implementing gift cards as research incentives, it’s important to choose a gift card platform that meets your needs. A tool with the right combination of features and technology can make both the study team and the recipients’ experiences seamless.    

Security: Ensure you can safely send physical cards by mail or deliver them in person. This cuts down on gift card fraud and ensures study participants get to use the full value of their incentive. For digital cards, establish that you have secure channels to deliver the cards, whether that’s through SMS links or via email.    

Analytics: Allow your team to gain insight into study progression with user-friendly dashboards and instant reporting. With access to data such as average order value and quantity, you're empowered to stay on budget while meeting research goals.  

Distribution: Deliver participant payment in a convenient, timely manner. Whether recipients prefer a low-tech physical card or a link in an email or text, knowing your audience and matching the distribution channels to their spending habits will guarantee a greater long-term ROI. Bulk distribution methods are time-effective and reduce overhead, creating a smoother and faster compensation process.  

The Engage2Reward™ Gift Card Ordering Platform provides all these features: security features associated with every step of the process, a powerful analytics dashboard to give you greater control and visibility into your program, and multiple distribution channels including bulk options, along with live customer service to ensure that your experience using gift card incentives in your research study is seamless.

Reward participants instantly with physical gift cards, which can be quickly activated through the Engage2Reward Platform activation module, or send out eGift cards through text or email for easy digital access. Whichever method you choose, participants will feel adequately compensated for their time and effort.

Considering Gift Cards as Research Study Incentives   

Designing research studies is a meticulous, process-driven practice. Useful data hinges on the right participant pool; without recruiting the right people, the entire study could be in jeopardy. Considering research study incentives as part of the study design is crucial to recruiting and retaining the study participants you require.   

Using gift cards as research incentives is compelling because they can scale to meet different audience compensation expectations, are flexible to meet any budget, and can be distributed in a way that makes sense for your study and its participants. More than that, gift cards are likely to deliver value to your recipients and provide a return on investment for your study team.    

Learn how you can start implementing gift cards as research incentives today with the Engage2Reward Platform.  

Ryan Moore. (2023, April 4). Recruiting the right participants for your focus groups: Best practices . RMS. https://rmsresults.com/2023/04/14/recruiting-the-right-participants-for-your-focus-groups-best-practices/

Using incentives to increase research participation . Hardwick Research. (2019, March 5). https://www.hardwickresearch.com/using-incentives-to-improve-qualitative-research-participation/

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Research Study Gift Cards: A Sure Path to Improving Survey Response Rates

Justin Calderon

• September 19, 2023

Table of Contents

Research study gift cards have become increasingly popular among research agencies, businesses, and academia, which have all discovered that incentives are often needed to improve response rates and response completeness in market studies. 

Regarding the usefulness of incentives in surveys, a 2017 study published by the National Library of Medicine discovered that the likelihood of returning a survey increased by 30% when accompanied with an incentive offer. Furthermore, the number of returned surveys increased by 18%. 

A 2023 study published on PLOS One also discovered “a significant increase in response rate in the incentive group compared to the control group, irrespective of the incentive methods.”

With gift cards becoming broadly popular, it is no wonder that they have also been adopted as incentives for completing surveys. Large and established companies like Google, Microsoft, and P&G have all used gift cards to improve response rates to their surveys.

In what follows, we consider how you can also use gift cards as incentives for participation in research studies and surveys. We’ll cover: 

• The need for incentives for participation in research studies and surveys
• The use of gift cards for research participants: Examples
• How to use research gift cards successfully
• How to start incentivizing market studies and surveys

[Do you want to access multiple gift cards from hundreds of retailers so you can maximize response rates to your surveys? Sign up for Reloadly or contact us to learn more about how we can improve your research studies.] 

1. The need for incentives for participation in research studies and surveys

Everyone is busy with one thing or another. Therefore, when a researcher interrupts them to fill out a survey, there is a need to compensate them for the opportunity cost of the time they will spend filling the survey forms. 

This is especially true for researchers – academics, research agencies, marketing agencies –  who do not have any existing relationship with the research subjects. 

Of course, it is possible to get some responses even without any incentive. However, research has shown that using them can improve response rates significantly. 

The incentive does not even need to be very significant. A study published by Health Services Research found that the response rates for a $5 reward and a $2 reward were very close and that the quantity of the incentive did not affect the quality of the data. 

It seems then that what matters ultimately is that people want to feel that the organization behind the research values their time. 

Companies who have built an army of loyal customers around their brand might find it easier to collect data without offering incentives. In fact, the loyal customers will be happy to complete the surveys. 

This means then that the need to offer incentives depend on the intrusiveness of the survey request (from the respondent’s point of view). 

However, even these companies sometimes have to enter uncharted territory to get data that loyal customers cannot provide. In that case, offering incentives will be very important.

Time required

While a one-minute survey may not require an incentive, a 10-minute survey will often require it (all other factors held constant). 

Expertise level required

A research study targeting busy surgeons or attorneys will tend to require incentives to get any decent response rate. However, a survey targeting university students may not require such incentives. 

Even when an incentive is required, the expertise needed for the survey will result in a different amount of incentives. A study of people who use certain products will require less incentives compared to one targeting surgeons.  

Type of survey

If a company offers incentives for its customers to write reviews, there is a risk that the responses will be biased in favor of the company. While this might look like a good thing, in reality companies need the not-so-good reviews as incentives for innovations and improvements.   

On the other hand, if an independent research company or an academic is the one carrying out the survey, a reward will be less likely to skew the result in favor of a company.

Similarly, bringing people together for focus groups might require more incentives compared to them just filling out a form on their phones.  

Target population

If the researcher is targeting a population that is traditionally known for responding positively to survey demands (university students, for example), an incentive might not be needed. 

Conversely, a population known for its indifference to surveys (say busy office workers) may perform much better with an incentive. 

If a researcher has decided to use an incentive, there are two types that can be deployed: monetary and non-monetary incentives. The former includes cash payments, gift cards, coupons, airtime , among others while the latter include freebies (say free products or digital resources like an e-book).

However, it’s the monetary incentives that perform best. “When it comes to increasing response rates, previous research has shown that cash is king, boosting survey response rates the most,” according to Survey Monkey . “And non-monetary incentives like a thank-you gift aren’t as effective as monetary incentives when it comes to increasing response rates.”

2. The use of gift cards for research participants: Examples

Gift cards have become popular as a form of monetary reward. There are at least three reasons for the popularity of research study gift cards. 

First, for businesses with ecommerce stores, gift cards can help improve response rates while also increasing sales . If a business sends money to study participants they may not spend it on the business’ products. However, if they send their own gift cards, then the recipient will spend. And it has been shown that for 90% of shoppers, gift card purchases typically exceed the amount on the gift card; that is, they spend more than the value of the gift card. 

Second, researchers that don’t have their own stores can still offer popular gift cards like research study Amazon gift cards that will appeal to a lot of people . An academic institute or research agency can also buy gift cards and distribute them to study participants. You can’t do this with coupons.

Third, researchers can offer a wide range of gift cards (Amazon, Apple, Visa, Mastercard, Target, eBay, etc.) so that no respondent will have to settle for a research incentive they don’t want . A free ebook might be nice but some people don’t care about it; a free product might appeal to some but not to others. Gift cards solve this problem, and offering many of them works better. 

Now, let’s focus on examples of research study gift cards in action. 

Capterra is an online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of various software solutions. 

In 2019, they offered $10 digital gift cards for respondents to write a review of software solutions they are using at the office (including Zapier, Hubspot, FreshBooks, Mailchimp, etc.). The program was opened to anyone who was using any of the 30,000 software solutions listed on their marketplace. 

Mom Beach Blog

In 2021, this blog, which is dedicated to helping mothers achieve success and life balance, offered those on its email list the opportunity to fill a survey to earn some rewards.

Unlike the example above, it combined two different rewards: all respondents will get a time-sensitive coupon code and one of them will win (in a sweepstake) an Amazon gift card of $25. 

This is often referred to as a hybrid research incentive. 

Walmart, the retail store, provides another example of a hybrid incentive. 

It provides a study gift card for 750 customers willing to participate in its customer experience survey. 

There is the general reward (First Prize) of $100 electronic gift card for all participants and then a special reward (Grand Prizes) of $1,000 electronic gift cards for five lucky customers. 

Swagbucks is a website where people can earn money by filling survey forms and executing other tasks like surfing the web and playing video games. 

For every survey filled (or other tasks accomplished), the respondent will earn some points. Once the points reach a threshold, the respondent will be able to redeem them for gift cards. 

The advantage of a site like Swagbucks is that those interested can continue to find new research studies to participate in to earn some consistent side income. 

Our last example is from LinkedIn. In the example below, they offered 750 Indian rupees ($9USD) worth of incentives for select individuals in India. 

What made this interesting is that they provided multiple options for redemption of the incentive. They provided three different types of gift cards (Infibeam gift certificate, Book My Show gift voucher, Amazon gift card), a Paypal transfer, or a donation to the respondent’s charity.  

This type of survey will tend to have a higher response rate since respondents can choose which of the options provided suits them the most. 

3. How to use research study gift cards successfully

Our focus now is to consider how you as a researcher can successfully use gift cards to improve your study. We’ll explore five important points: 

Determine if gift card-supported research is needed

In a previous section, we identified five reasons why incentives are often required. 

The first step is to determine if you need an incentive to begin with. If you are dealing with people who are familiar and comfortable with you, don’t require expertise to fill the form, are typically eager to respond to surveys and the survey won’t take their time, you might not need an incentive. 

However, if any of these factors do not hold, an incentive may be needed. 

Nevertheless, you might still decide to give incentives even when you don’t need it. Also, if you assume you don’t need incentives and the response rate is insufficient, you can then decide to introduce incentives to increase response rate (but you should also consider if the original respondents might despise you for that). 

Select the best gift cards for research participants

What are the best gift cards for research participants? 

It seems Linkedin may have among the strongest offers. If the researcher is an online store and they offer their gift cards alone, some people will not respond because they prefer an Amazon card, for example. On the other hand, offering an Amazon card for everyone might leave out those who would prefer another card. 

Since maximizing response rate is key, it might be better to work with a gift card reseller so you can offer multiple gift cards and meet the needs of diverse respondents . 

If you are an online store, you might also include your gift cards as one of the options. Apart from the fact that some will love it, there is also the advantage of higher sales.  

Set a budget

Your budget will depend on the target participants, the expertise required, and the number of participants desired. 

The cost of incentives for 1,000 general office workers is not the same as when you are targeting 2,000 busy surgeons. Ensure you plan accordingly. 

Use promised rather than prepaid incentives

Prepaid incentives are incentives that can be accessed before the survey has been completed. Promised incentives, on the other hand, are incentives for completing surveys.

Unless you are dealing with people already loyal to your brand, prepaid incentives will likely underperform. Generally, promised incentives, which motivates survey completion, are the best.  

Ensure the reward is easy to claim

Don’t make respondents jump through hoops before they can claim their rewards . And if there are any extra forms, they must be communicated before they sign up for the survey. 

When rewards are easy to claim, it creates good faith. You can harness this good faith in the future to get responses to a new survey without incentive or with a less-valued one. 

4. How to start incentivizing market studies and surveys

If you are only doing a once in a blue moon survey, then you can just work with a gift card reseller to provide multiple study gift cards to respondents. 

However, if you are learning how to incentivize survey responses as an executive in a market research company, think tank, company or NGO that relies on surveys a lot, or in an academic institution, there is a better way. 

Instead of working with resellers, you can become a sort of reseller yourself (except that you are giving out egift cards to people rather than selling them). 

The advantage of this is that you get to access and buy multiple egift cards from multiple retailers and easily send them to respondents. 

This is the solution that Reloadly provides. 

By integrating the Reloadly API or WordPress plugin to your website or app, you will get access to 14,000 gift cards from over 300 brands that you can buy and then send to respondents across the globe. 

With this, you can create any research study gift card program at any time. 

[Are you ready to easily reward your survey respondents with gift cards? Sign up for Reloadly to access a wide variety of cards or contact us to learn more about how you can get started.]

• Market research companies and other researchers have found that incentives can help them improve response rates to surveys. 
• Intrusion, time required, expertise required from the human subjects, type of survey, and target population are factors that will determine if there is need for incentives for completing surveys. 
• To maximize response rates, it is better to offer multiple gift card options so that respondents can make their choice.
• Organizations that conduct research surveys regularly (multiple surveys in a calendar year) should consider becoming gift card retailers. 

This might also interest you:

How to Create Customized Visa Prepaid Cards in 6 Easy Steps 

9 Best Practices to Become A Better Gift Card Reseller

Employee Gift Card Programs: How to Successfully Design Work Incentives

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Tips for Compensating Research Participants

Researchers should consider the risk of coercion when developing a compensation plan to pay participants for human subjects research..

Compensation is a predetermined form of payment provided to research participants for their engagement in a research activity. Compensation can include travel reimbursement  (e.g., a preloaded METROcard), electronic gift cards, and cash. A small compensation as an incentive for completion of a study is permitted so long as such incentive is not coercive. Teachers College Institutional Review Board (IRB) does not consider compensation a benefit. 

Distribution of compensation may also include other departments (e.g., accounts payable) besides the IRB office. Researchers should consult the appropriate sources to determine the best way to distribute payment to study participants.

This article will cover the following topics related to participant compensation:

• How to disclose your plan to compensate participants for their involvement in a research study.
• The potential for coercion and how to determine a fair compensation amount.
• Guidance specific to certain study populations.

Disclosing a Plan to Compensate Participants

An IRB protocol submission is composed of the  IRB Application Template  and any documentation relevant to the study, such as consent documents, recruitment materials , or site permission forms (e.g., Informed Consent Form Template , Site Permission Template ). In the IRB application and on consent forms, researchers should detail their plans to compensate participants. The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) recommends researchers include “a detailed account of the terms of payment, including a description of the conditions under which a subject would receive partial or no payment (e.g., what will happen if he or she withdraws part way through the research or the investigator removes a subject from the study for medical or noncompliance reasons),” and that “payment [may] be prorated for the time of participation in the study rather than delayed until study completion because the latter could unduly influence a subject’s decision to exercise his or her right to withdraw at any time” ( HHS.gov, Attachment A ). 

A compensation plan should include…

• An explanation of how participants will be compensated. 
• (e.g., “Compensation will be prorated for completion of each study activity”).
• The amount and form of compensation.
• (e.g., $25 Amazon gift card, $30 cash, $10 preloaded METROcard, etc.). 
• How the researcher will distribute the compensation to participants, including any  identifiable information that may be collected during the process. 
• (e.g., “Participants will be given the option to enter their email address at the end of the survey if they would like to receive compensation. Upon successful completion of the survey, the researcher will send a $25 Amazon gift card to the participant’s email. Participants’ contact information and survey data will be stored separately and their personally identifiable information will not be published or presented publicly.”)
• Circumstances under which participants may or may not be compensated.
• (e.g., “You may leave the interview at any time. Participants who complete 75% of the survey questions or more will receive a $20 gift card.” Alternatively, “You may leave the study at any time. All eligible participants, regardless of whether they leave the study early, will receive a $10 preloaded METROcard.”) .
• For studies that extend over the course of several sessions or days, consider prorating the compensation. 
• (e.g., “You will complete three one-hour interviews over the course of 6 months. After each interview, you will receive a $20 gift card. After completing all three interviews, you will be given an additional $10 gift card. Your total compensation for this study is up to $70.”)

Potential for Coercion

“Influence is contextual, and undue influence is likely to depend on an individual’s situation” (HHS.gov, Attachment A ). Federal guidelines rarely provide precise standards for determining undue influence. As a result, TC IRB reviews each protocol submission on a case-by-case basis. Based on provisions set by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) , IRBs make reasonable assessments “to minimize the likelihood of undue influence or coercion occurring. For example, IRBs may restrict levels of financial or nonfinancial incentives for participation and should carefully review the information to be disclosed to potential subjects to ensure that the incentives and how they will be provided are clearly described. Known benefits should be stated accurately but not exaggerated, and potential or uncertain benefits should be stated as such, with clear language indicating how much is known about the uncertainty or likelihood of these potential benefits” (HHS.gov, Attachment A ).

When determining whether compensation is coercive or causes undue influence, the IRB will weigh the participant qualifications against the intensity of tasks and time spent on study activities. Participant compensation is typically metered on average wages (salary based on profession) and time spent on tasks. Compensation that is more (or less) than this amount should be justified by the researcher. 

The IRB will also consider how the researchers describe the compensation in their recruitment materials. In general, information about compensation should be secondary (in both content and formatting) to information about the study. Recruitment materials that format or highlight compensation as the main feature, or make compensation an inducement to participate in a study, are coercive and will be sent back to the researcher for revisions. 

An acceptable recruitment flyer might read, “This study will examine the effects of sleep habits and sleep deprivation on the brain and body. You must be enrolled in a university program to be eligible to participate. This study is conducted by Dr. Anna Freud ( [email protected] ) at the Brain Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University (Protocol ID: 10-001). Participants will receive a physical exam and $100 for their participation.” 

An unacceptable, or coercive, recruitment flyer might read, “Chance to get $100 and Free Medical Care just for talking about your Sleep Habits! Email [email protected] to get paid today!!” 

Population Specific Guidances

The IRB will also consider whether the compensation is fitting for the population of interest. For example, youth should not be given monetary compensation. However, small gifts such as pens or erasers may be fitting for a short, school-based study. 

New York City’s law states that NYC Department of Education teachers cannot receive compensation for participation in research studies . This means that TC researchers cannot give teachers monetary compensation for research conducted during class time or typical work hours. Researchers who would like to offer teachers compensation should conduct the study during the teachers’ personal time. Alternatively, if your research activities must fall during class time, consider providing teachers with non-monetary compensation (such as school supplies) or donations. For all studies, the IRB will make a decision on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on coercion and risk to participants, please review our guide to Understanding Potential Risks for Human Subjects Research . If you have specific questions about compensating participants, please contact the IRB at [email protected].

• NYC DOE IRB Information for Principals
• OHRP's Attachment A
• AMA Journal of Ethics: When Does the Amount We Pay Participants Become "Undue Influence"?

— Kailee Kodama Muscente, M.A.

Published Tuesday, Jul 6, 2021

Institutional Review Board

Address: Russell Hall, Room 13

* Phone: 212-678-4105 * Email:   [email protected]

Appointments are available by request . Make sure to have your IRB protocol number (e.g., 19-011) available.  If you are unable to access any of the downloadable resources, please contact  OASID via email [email protected] .

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Virtual Lab Online Research Studies

The pimco decision research virtual lab at the roman family center for decision research allows people from around the world to take paid research studies online using surveys, zoom video calls, and other remote tools..

Video Transcript

Transcript coming soon.

By participating in online behavioral science studies, you play a vital role in helping Chicago Booth researchers better understand judgment and decision-making.

Here's how you can take paid surveys and interactive studies from the comfort of home. Sign Up (New Participants)   Log In (Existing Participants)

Take Studies in the Virtual Lab

You'll need:.

• A computer, smartphone, or tablet
• Internet connection

How to Get Started

• Sign up for an account. Within 1 business day, you'll receive an email with your login info and other important information.
• Tell us about yourself. The first time you log into your account, you'll be prompted to take a short prescreen survey about you and your background. Watch a video tutorial.
• Sign up for paid surveys: When you log in, you'll see the studies you are eligible to take. By default, participants are eligible for surveys, one of our two types of studies.
• Optional: Take the Zoom Prerequisite Study Pays $3 / 10-15 min. / Appointments Tu-Fri, 11am-4pm CT Many of our highest-paying studies are conducted via Zoom, a video chat platform. To become eligible for these more advanced studies, you must pass the Zoom Prerequisite Study. You'll need a computer with a working microphone, webcam, and audio. Video tutorial .

After completing these introductory tasks, you'll be able to sign up for behavioral science studies on our online research platform, Sona . Sign Up to Participate

Compensation

Participants are paid at a rate of $12 per hour ($1 for every 5 minutes). After completing a study, you'll be emailed an Amazon digital gift card as payment , typically within two business days.

Please note that if you are located outside of the United States, you will only be able to redeem Amazon electronic gift cards via the USA-based amazon.com site, and not on Amazon sites based in other countries.

What to Expect

Behavioral science combines psychology, economics, and other fields to better understand human decision-making.The Virtual Lab's online research studies involve simple, everyday tasks like filling out surveys, providing your opinions, or chatting with a study partner.

Interactive studies are conducted using Zoom, a video chat platform. These tend to be our highest paying studies and require appointments scheduled Tuesday-Friday. Before taking Zoom studies, you must first complete the Zoom Prerequisite Study. Tips for using Zoom .

We pride ourselves on creating an inclusive and safe environment for all participants and researchers, so please review the Virtual Lab code of conduct before participating.

Questions? Email us at [email protected] .

Current Participants

Log into your account to see the paid research studies you are currently eligible to complete. Don't see any studies? Check back soon! New studies & time slots are posted each weeknight by 8pm.

Surveys are available on-demand 24/7 and can be completed any time before the study's deadline.

Zoom studies are conducted Tuesday-Friday 11am-4 pm CT (UTC -5).

For Researchers

If you are a researcher interested in conducting online studies in the Virtual Lab, please visit the Researcher Portal  (requires CNET ID) or contact the Virtual Lab to discuss your options. The labs team can help with IRB approval, study design, data analysis, and more.

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Gift Cards as Research Incentives

Researchers intending to compensate their human subjects must describe the planned compensation in their IRB research protocols. Participant compensation may not be coercive and, if using IUP funds, must be issued in the form of gift cards not exceeding $25 per card.

Studies requiring more than $25 in compensation to individual participants may break the project into milestones that can be compensated up to $25 each. IUP-funded gift cards may not be grouped in order to award more than $25 in compensation for any one milestone.

No research participant may receive more than $599 in compensation in a fiscal year across all projects in which they participate.

Researchers using IUP funds ( USRC grants , student research grants, etc.) must consult their award letter for details about how to purchase, distribute, and retain reward records to ensure the expense will be eligible for reimbursement and compliant with university policy.

For student researchers using IUP grant funds to purchase gift cards, the gift card purchase must be approved by the IRB and be detailed in the approved grant budget and award letter. If approved, students must purchase electronic gift cards and distribute them to participants via email. The student research and the faculty mentor named on the approved IRB protocol must retain the names and emails of compensated participants for five years.

When seeking reimbursement for approved gift card purchases, students must provide a receipt proving purchase of each gift card and must redact the name/email of each recipient such that it is clear each gift card went to a unique participant but no identifiable information is provided to anyone not named on the IRB protocol.

Questions regarding gift cards for human subjects research and grant-funded gift card purchases may be directed to Hilliary Creely.

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Cash and Gift Card Payments to Research Participants : B-015

Policy/guideline area, applicable divisions.

The purpose of this guideline is to establish the process for low dollar payments to research participants through cash or gift card at the institutions governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Policy/Guideline

• Personally identifiable information should be gathered in a manner which prevents disclosure of personal information to other research participants.
• Signatures must be obtained from research participants indicating receipt of the cash or traditional gift card payment.
• Payments of greater than $100 to research participants for participation in studies should be made through the institution's accounts payable system via check or direct deposit.  
• Some research studies use low dollar payments to compensate participants for time, inconvenience, or as an incentive to increase participation. When such payments are no more than $100 per payment per participant, and individual participant payments aggregate to less than $600 per study, it may be appropriate to make payments utilizing cash, traditional gift cards or electronic gift cards as long as the following procedures are followed.
• No payment from cash or gift cards may be made to an institution employee or non-resident alien.
• Cash may not be used to purchase gift cards.
• Cash or gift cards for research studies must be assigned to a custodian, e.g. a member of the research study staff, responsible for safeguarding the cash or gift cards.
• Cash or gift cards for research studies must be maintained under lock and key by the custodian of the funds.
• Access to the cash or gift cards for research studies must be controlled by the custodian of the funds.
• The balance of cash gift cards on hand plus participant receipts must equal the cash and gift cards authorized and obtained. If a shortage of cash or gift cards on hand is determined, the shortage must be reported to the institution’s Bursar’s Office immediately.
• Cash or gift cards must be used for research participant payment only and may not be used for departmental or other research expenses.
• Cash and gift cards for research participants are subject to audit at any time by the institution, State Audit, or funding agency. 
• Cash and gift cards for research participants are required to be closed out at the end of the research study and any excess cash or cards must be returned to the Bursar’s Office.
• Cash or traditional gift cards must be hand delivered to research participants. These funds cannot be sent to participants through the mail. If participant payments must be mailed, cash or gift cards cannot be used and the payments need to be in the form or a check or direct deposit processed through the Institution’s Accounts Payable department.
• Recipient name or, in the case of anonymous or confidential human subject participants, the participant ID number;
• Date of distribution;
• Signature of PI authorizing disbursement to recipients;
• Purpose of payment;
• Serial number of the gift card;
• Amount of gift card;
• Signature or initials of study participant or recipient, if available.
• This reconciliation must be approved by the supervisor of the person disbursing the cards.
• Payments aggregate to $600 or more per participant are required to be reported as income to the Internal Revenue Service.

T.C.A. § 49-8-203; IRS Regulations

NEW Guideline approved at Presidents Meeting, Feb. 4, 2014. Revised at Presidents Meeting, August 18, 2015.

3 Ways Study Gift Cards Enhance Your Research Program

by Daniela Maria Zabrautanu

June 28, 2023.

Gift cards have been a popular form of reward and incentive across various industries, including research and education. A study gift card is a type of gift card that can be utilized as a research incentive . Researchers often utilize such gift cards to motivate individuals to participate in research studies, whether they are surveys, experiments, or clinical trials. They are also a flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional monetary incentives.

Why are incentives important in research programs

Incentives, including survey incentives , are crucial in research programs. They enhance participant engagement, response rates, and retention and foster a positive researcher-participant relationship while compensating participants for their time and effort. By recognizing the importance of incentives, researchers can create a more successful and ethical research environment.

• Enhanced Participant Engagement : Incentives increase participant engagement by offering a tangible benefit for their involvement. Participants are more likely to dedicate time and effort to the research program when they know they will be rewarded for their participation.
• Increased Response Rates : Offering incentives can significantly boost response rates in surveys. Participants are more inclined to complete surveys promptly and thoroughly when they have the added motivation of receiving rewards. This leads to higher-quality data and a more representative sample.

Benefits of Using Study Gift Cards

Using research study gift cards in research programs offers flexibility, and personalized rewards, and incentivizes participation. They enhance participant retention, provide access to study resources, express appreciation, and contribute to a positive research experience. They also align with ethical considerations and have a long-term impact on participants’ academic pursuits.

• Flexibility : Study gift cards offer recipients the flexibility to choose the specific study materials, resources, or educational tools they need or desire. This ensures that individuals can select items that align with their specific interests, learning style, or academic goals.
• Personalized Rewards : Study gift cards allow researchers to provide personalized rewards to study participants. This personalized approach enhances participant satisfaction and engagement by acknowledging their unique preferences and interests.
• Incentivizing Participation : They serve as incentives, motivating individuals to participate in research studies. By offering a valuable reward, researchers can attract a larger pool of participants and encourage active involvement, leading to increased response rates and higher-quality data.
• Retention and Commitment : Utilizing research study gift cards as rewards can improve participant retention and commitment to the research program. Participants are more likely to remain engaged and dedicated when they perceive ongoing benefits and rewards for their continued participation.
• Access to Study Resources : They provide participants with the means to access study resources they may not have been able to afford otherwise. This ensures that participants have the necessary tools and materials to actively engage in the research process and enhance their learning experience.
• Appreciation and Recognition : They are a tangible way to express appreciation and recognition to study participants. By offering these rewards, researchers can acknowledge and thank individuals for their valuable contributions to the research program.
• Positive Participant Experience : Using study gift cards can contribute to a positive participant experience. Participants feel valued and respected when they receive a reward that directly benefits their studies, creating a more enjoyable and meaningful research experience overall.
• Ethical Considerations : They align with ethical research practices by compensating participants for their time and effort. Providing fair rewards demonstrates respect for participants’ contributions and ensures they are not exploited or taken advantage of during the research process.
• Versatility : Research study gift cards can be used across various educational platforms, including online retailers, bookstores, or e-learning platforms. This versatility allows participants to explore a wide range of study resources based on their individual preferences and needs.
• Long-term Impact : They can have a lasting impact on participants’ academic journeys. By providing resources that support their studies, participants can continue to benefit even after the research program concludes, promoting ongoing learning and development.

The use of study gift cards as incentives or compensation helps create a positive reinforcement system, encouraging participants to remain committed to the study and potentially improving retention rates. Moreover, these gift cards allow participants to choose their own rewards, making them more personalized and appealing. Participants can use the gift cards to purchase items they desire, such as books, stationery, electronics, or other study-related resources, further enhancing their study experience.

Related : Top 15 Student Gift Card Ideas to Inspire and Motivate

3 Ways to Enhance Your Research Program with Study Gift Cards

Study gift cards enhance research programs by increasing participant engagement, improving participant retention, facilitating the recruitment of diverse participants, and promoting higher-quality data collection. These incentives provide valuable rewards that motivate participants, fostering their active involvement and contributing to the overall success of research endeavors.

1. Improve participant engagement

Offering study gift cards as incentives can lead to more engaged participants who are motivated to complete the study. Research studies utilizing them as incentives have reported response rate increases of up to 30%, indicating a higher level of participant involvement and active participation.

2. Improved Participant Retention

The introduction of study gift cards as ongoing incentives has proven effective in improving participant retention. Research programs implementing them at various milestones or for specific tasks have experienced a remarkable 20% decrease in attrition rates, ensuring a more consistent and reliable data stream.

3. Enhanced Data Quality

Research programs utilizing study gift cards have observed a positive impact on data quality. Participants who are incentivized with study gift cards exhibit a greater level of motivation, resulting in more thoughtful and accurate responses. Studies have documented a 15% increase in data accuracy and reliability when participants are offered them as rewards.

Best practices to implement study gift cards in your research program

1. choose the right type and value of gift card.

It’s important to choose gift cards that are relevant and appealing to your participants. Consider their demographics and interests when selecting the type of gift card. Additionally, the value of the gift card should be proportionate to the effort required by participants.

Send yourself a study gift card

2. communicate clearly and effectively about the incentive program.

Make sure participants are aware of the incentive and what they need to do to earn it. Clear communication is key to ensuring that participants are motivated to complete the study and receive the reward.

Related : Employee Incentive Programs : The Ultimate Guide to Retaining Top Talent in 2023

3. Ensure fairness and transparency in the incentive distribution process

Make sure to comply with ethical and legal guidelines when offering incentives. For example, some institutions may have restrictions on the value and type of incentives that can be offered.

Who can use study gift cards?

Study gift cards can be used by various individuals and organizations involved in research, education, or learning initiatives. Here are some key entities that can make use of these gift cards:

• Researchers : Researchers conducting surveys, experiments, or studies often utilize survey study gift cards as incentives to encourage participation and enhance data quality.
• Academic Institutions : Educational institutions, such as a school, or a university, can use them to reward students for their academic achievements, encourage active learning, or acknowledge exceptional performance.
• Employers and Organizations : Employers and organizations interested in promoting continuous learning and professional development may offer them as rewards or incentives to employees.
• Market Research Firms : Companies specializing in market research often employ survey study gift cards to incentivize individuals to participate in consumer surveys, focus groups, or product testing.
• Government and Nonprofit Organizations : Government agencies or nonprofit organizations involved in research or educational initiatives may utilize study gift cards to incentivize participation in surveys, studies, or programs.

Real-World Examples of Successful Research Programs

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to integrate study gift cards into your research programs, here are three examples of companies that have successfully done so:

1. Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble offers study gift cards to incentivize participation in their research studies. They have found that offering incentives not only motivates participants but also helps to reduce drop-out rates.

2. Microsoft

Microsoft has integrated study gift cards into its research programs as a way to thank participants for their time and effort. They have found that study gift cards are a cost-effective way to incentivize participation, while also helping to improve the quality of their research results.

Google has also used survey study gift cards to incentivize participation in their research studies. They have found that offering these gift cards helps to increase response rates and improve the quality of their research data. Additionally, they can be used to incentivize participants to complete multiple studies over time.

By offering study gift cards as an incentive, these companies have been able to improve the quality of their research results and increase participation rates. If you’re looking to do the same, consider integrating study gift cards into your own research programs.

Related : One Simple Rule About Incentive Programs for Employees

Providers of study gift cards

When it comes to study gift cards, there are various providers to choose from. While Amazon may be a popular and straightforward option for purchasing gift cards, personalized gift cards from Huuray offer a superior alternative. Here’s why:

Tailored Experience

Huuray specializes in creating personalized gift cards, allowing you to customize the design, message, and even the recipient’s name. This level of personalization adds a thoughtful touch to the gift card, making it more meaningful and memorable for the recipient.

Convenience and Instant Delivery

Huuray’s digital gift cards provide the ultimate convenience. With just a few clicks, you can select and send a personalized study gift card directly to the recipient’s email inbox. This instant delivery ensures that the gift card can be received and utilized immediately, making it ideal for recipients in different countries around the globe.

Global Accessibility

The digital gift cards offered by Huuray have global accessibility, allowing you to send study gift cards to recipients regardless of their location. This eliminates any geographical limitations, making it easier to connect with and reward participants, students, or learners around the world. Our bulk gift cards option enables quick and easy purchases of large quantities.

Gifting Options

Huuray’s dual offering of digital and physical gift cards provides flexibility in gifting options. You can choose the format that best suits your recipient’s preferences or the occasion. Whether you prefer the convenience of a digital gift card or the tangible appeal of a physical one, Huuray ensures that you have the freedom to select the most suitable option.

To recap, the use of study gift cards as incentives in research programs has several benefits, including increased participation rates and improved data quality. Companies like Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, and Google have reported positive results from using study gift cards. Research studies have shown a 15% increase in data accuracy and reliability when participants are offered valuable study gift cards as rewards.

To ensure success when implementing study gift cards, it’s important to choose the right type and value of gift card, communicate clearly and effectively about the incentive program, and ensure fairness and transparency in the incentive distribution process. By following these best practices, companies can improve their research programs and achieve more accurate and reliable results.

Let’s have a chat

Frequently asked questions, what are the best gift cards for research participants.

The best gift cards for research participants can vary depending on the preferences and demographics of the participants, as well as the nature of the research study. However, here are some popular and versatile gift card options that are often well-received by research participants:

• Amazon Gift Cards
• Visa or Mastercard Prepaid Gift Cards
• Freedom of Choice Gift Card
• Online Learning Platform Gift Cards
• Bookstore Gift Cards
• Coffee Shop or Restaurant Gift Cards

When selecting the best gift cards for research participants, it’s important to consider their demographics, preferences, and the study’s context. Personalizing the gift card selection as much as possible based on the participants’ characteristics can contribute to a positive and meaningful experience for the research participants.

What are some examples of incentives in research participation?

There are various incentives used to encourage research participation. Here are some examples:

• Monetary Compensation
• Study Gift Cards
• Vouchers or Coupons
• Extra Credit or Academic Incentives
• Entry into Raffles or Prize Drawings
• Access to Research Findings

These examples of incentives in research participation demonstrate the variety of approaches used to engage and motivate individuals to take part in studies. The specific incentive chosen depends on factors such as the nature of the research, target population, available resources, and ethical considerations. Researchers carefully consider which incentives will be most appealing and appropriate for their particular study and participant pool.

What are study gift cards used for in education?

Study gift cards serve various purposes in education. Here are some common uses of study gift cards in the educational context:

• Academic Rewards
• Study Material Access
• Learning Platform Subscriptions
• Educational Tools and Equipment
• Study Abroad Support
• Student Scholarships

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Using Digital Gift Cards to Incentivize Research Participation

March 15, 2022

Incorporating gift card incentives into your surveys can improve participant engagement and response rates, resulting in more accurate data.

Using gift cards as an incentive provides you with the flexibility to incentivize the right subjects to participate in your survey. Here are some popular incentive ideas and guidelines to help you maximize your research participation.

Ideas for Participation Incentives

A wide range of participation incentives is available to researchers, including: 

•       Digital products, such as courses
•       Physical products
•       Tickets for physical or virtual events
•       Free shipping coupons
•       Airtime rewards 

Most participants prefer gift cards for online purchases or to pay for products in physical stores. Dispersing digital gift cards  to participants is also quick and easy, as you can email them to your recipients in bulk.

Provide Usable Gift Card Incentives

When using gift cards as incentives, they should be usable across the entire participant segment. For example, if 500 people respond to a kitchen appliance survey, not all of them will care to use a  gift card for a store like Callaway Golf . However, almost all your respondents will find value in an Amazon gift card or Visa Incentive Virtual Card . 

Consider International Research Participants

When working with Giftbit, you can reach customers not only in the United States, but also in Canada. This allows you to receive research from millions of people across North America, widening and diversifying your sample size. By integrating popular US and Canada gift card incentives from Giftbit, you'll have a much bigger pool of potential research subjects from which to draw.

Match the Rewards with the Academic Research Programs

Complete the survey yourself to find out how long it takes, and be realistic about the value of the participants’ time. The longer a participant takes to complete a survey, the higher the gift card value should be. If your gift card value is too low, you might end up with a low response rate and incomplete surveys.

Encourage Future Participation

A research incentive aims to make the participation worth the respondent’s while and maximize future surveys’ response rate . The gift card options you have available should be appropriate and of value to your audience. The more appealing your gift card options, the higher your response rate will be. 

For example, during the COVID-19 lockdown, market researchers who offered gift cards for online shopping received better responses than those who offered movie theater gift cards.

Digital Gift Cards for Your Incentive Programs

Giftbit is an app that allows marketing agencies, academic institutions, and corporate HR departments to select from a wide range of gift cards and send the rewards in bulk to recipients’ email addresses. 

With the Zapier app, you can trigger a Giftbit reward whenever someone completes your survey in Survey Monkey, automating your rewards program. We also offer an API to customize our gift card offerings to your specific business. Sign up with Giftbit today. 

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The RGCA Insights Committee is currently in the planning process and in need of additional information to guide their decision making.  By gaining a better understanding of how consumer purchasing of gift cards has been impacted, the RGCA can position the organization as the expert with consumer data and provide support to members on what they can expect this holiday season. See the research results now...  

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Research Participants Wanted

New opportunities.

Bladder basics study – a kid-friendly bladder health program

We’re seeking English-speaking families of children 5-10 years old with bladder concerns (i.e., daytime accidents, urgency, recurrent infections) to join our Bladder Basics Study. This study aims to learn how well Bladder Basics, an online self-paced bladder health education program, teaches families about bladder health.

Participants will:

• Watch 7 videos, each 5-10 minutes long, to learn about bladder health over 4 weeks.
• Complete surveys before, during, and after Bladder Basics within a period of 3 months.
• Receive up to $80 gift card upon completion of this study.

For more information, please contact  [email protected] .

Stanford-Omada blood pressure digital health study

Join our study to help us learn about home monitoring and digital health coaching programs for the treatment of high blood pressure. You can earn up to $100 gift card. Learn more .

Looking for a new birth control option? Join the LUMINOUS study

This study aims to learn more about whether a new birth control patch prevents pregnancy in women and to assess how well tolerated the study patch is. Learn more .

Research opportunity for Amazon gift cards

Now recruiting individuals assigned male at birth aged 18-40 to complete an anonymous ten minute survey about personal views on sperm donation. Enter for the chance to win one of twenty $75 amazon gift cards. Learn more .

Recruiting healthy male participants for a research study on genetic variation

Participate in the genetic variation study at Stanford University to explore the role of genetic variation between human sperm and somatic cells in relation to fertility issues. Learn more .

Looking for volunteers for a PET-MRI study

The Stanford University musculoskeletal radiology department is looking for healthy adult volunteers (between 18-80 years old) or those with unilateral knee osteoarthritis for a PET-MRI study.

Participants will undergo a 2.5-3 hour examination ($100 compensation) which includes:

• 50 mins of PET-MRI Scan 1
• 10 mins of stair-climbing exercise
• 50 mins of PET-MRI Scan 2
• 10 mins of questionnaires

For more information and to schedule a consent call please email Yael Vainberg at  [email protected] .

Healthy control volunteers needed

Seeking healthy pediatric volunteers (and healthy adults up to 24 years old) to serve as study controls to help investigate sudden-onset psychiatric disease.

Eligibility criteria:

• 4-24 years old
• No current or past medical or mental health concerns (i.e., anxiety, depression, OCD, tics, ADHD)
• Willing to complete questionnaires and at least one blood draw, urine collection, teeth plaque collection

Participants will receive:

• $50 for each blood draw or community service hours
• Reward of knowing that you are helping to make breakthroughs in mental health disorders caused by infections and immune activation

To get started, please take this survey: https://redcap.stanford.edu/surveys/?s=TRYPJMWMX37EHFM4 .  For more information, please visit this page or contact [email protected] .  For general rights for research participants, contact 1-866-680-2906.

Recruiting children with autism spectrum disorder to participate in a research study

Stanford University researchers are currently recruiting children with autism spectrum disorder to participate in a research study which examines the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs).

Eligibility: Children with autism spectrum disorder who:

• are aged between 3 and 12 years old
• exhibit restricted and repetitive behaviors
• will drink N-acetyl cysteine dissolved in water
• will undergo brain scanning with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• will undergo brain scanning with electroencephalography (EEG)

What is involved in the study: The study will take place at Stanford University over 12-to-16-week period. Our safety protocols have been updated for COVID-19 and many research activities will be completed remotely using Zoom and virtual surveys.

For more information about the study, please visit this page or contact  [email protected] .

Healthy female participants needed for a research study on sarcopenia

Researchers at the Stanford Pelvic Health Center are recruiting generally healthy women between the ages of 18-85 years, who don’t have chronic gastrointestinal health conditions, to participate in a study examining the association between sarcopenia and fecal incontinence.

You will be asked to complete:

• Health surveys (~ 15 minutes) • Anorectal Manometry and Anal Ultrasound (<60 minutes) • MRI of Back (< 15 minutes)

Participants will be reimbursed.

For more information about the study or to express your interest in participating, please email:  [email protected]

What sleep can teach us about Autism

You are invited to participate in a new research study to better understand how sleep affects children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study is led by the Stanford Autism Center of Excellence for Sleep.

What is involved?

• In-person cognitive and behavioral assessments 
• Day-time Electroencephalogram (EEG) 
• In-home, 2 night sleep monitoring session 
• Collection of saliva to measure cortisol and melatonin levels 
• Wearing a watch device that tracks sleep and daily activity 

You may be eligible if your child is...

• Between the ages of 4 and 17 years old 
• Has an ASD Diagnosis 
• Willing to complete on-site assessments, wear an activity tracking watch for 2 weeks, provide saliva samples, and participate in a day-time EEG and a 2 night sleep monitoring session

Learn more .

Prediabetic research participants wanted

If you are an adult between the ages of 18-65 who has been diagnosed with prediabetes, join Project Health!

Participants will take part in a six-week intervention designed to help prevent the progression from prediabetes to Type 2 Diabetes. This intervention involves either taking part in group lifestyle sessions or watching educational videos. 

If you’re interested, you can  take this survey  or contact us at  [email protected] . To learn more about participant’s rights, please reach out to 1-866-680-2906.

Chronic low back pain and brain imaging: opioid and non-opioid pain medications

We are looking for participants for a new research study that uses two types of brain imaging (MRI and PET) to understand how changes in brain activity and biochemistry contribute to chronic low back pain. We are also seeking to understand the differences between individuals who have chosen opioid medications and those who have not.

You may be eligible if:

• You are between 21-65 years old 
• You have chronic lower back pain 
• You are either currently taking opioids for more than 3 months or not taking any opioids for the last 3 months 
• Are not pregnant or nursing 

This study consists of remote online testing, questionnaires, one in-person visit to Palo Alto for a PET/MRI scan, and one visit for sensory testing using heat and pressure. Participant compensation is between $25 (for remote-only participants) and up to $200 for completing all visits. Contact the study coordinator at [email protected] or 650-724-4022 for more information. Learn more .

Healthy participants wanted for PET/MRI study

We are seeking healthy participants, ages 18-35 years old, for our PET/MRI study that images synapses in the brain with a recently developed radiotracer [11C]UCB-J. This is the first in-human tracer of the synapse in the brain. Our goal of this study is to see if there is reduced synaptic density in schizophrenia versus healthy people.

Participation entails a phone screen, interviews, and visits to Stanford University for one PET/MRI scan. Participants will be compensated $200 for the scan and $15 per hour for any non-scan time. Please give us a call at (650) 849-0552, or email  [email protected]  for more information!

BEST trial: Chronic low-back pain research participants wanted

The BEST (Biomarkers for Evaluating Spine Treatment) trial is a clinical trial being conducted through the Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program. The main goal of the BEST trial is to help patients determine which of the four chronic low back pain treatment will work best.  Learn more .

Stanford Migraine Study

Do you get migraines? Would you like to participate in a study of behavioral treatment for people with migraine? Study participants from Stanford, Bay Area & California are needed. Participants will be compensated with payment.

To register for the clinical trial, or for more information, please contact: Tel: (650) 304-6402 Email:  [email protected]

Participate in focus groups on data management and sharing

The Stanford Program for Rigor and Reproducibility (SPORR) is aiming to understand the research data-related practices of Stanford researchers as well as the support the community might need to implement the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) Data Management and Sharing policy.

School of Medicine students, staff, postdocs, and faculty willing to participate will be awarded $25 amazon gift card for their time.  Apply here .

CoPsyN Sleep Lab's LUNA study

Sleep loss can negatively impact the brain networks that regulate emotion. Research suggests that insomnia contributes to depressive mood symptoms. Individuals who are between 50 and 90 years old, experiencing mood symptoms, memory impairments and trouble sleeping may be eligible for this study. Learn more .

New exercise study: HIIT versus MICT

We are looking for sedentary individuals who want to begin exercising. Help Stanford scientists understand the molecular changes that occur during exercise. Participate in a 12-week exercise research study investigating the molecular changes that occur in your body. Learn more .

Maternal Offspring Microbiome Study (MOMS): Pregnancy, Nutrition & Microbiome Study

We are recruiting healthy pregnant women up to 20 weeks to participate in an exciting new diet and microbiome study! We want to know…

• How do diets influence the microbiota during pregnancy?
• How does the maternal microbiota influence the infant microbiota during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum?

Household transmission study for COVID-19 and influenza

We aim to learn how the COVID-19 and Influenza viruses are transmitted among household members and whether vaccination can help reduce transmission. The study will collect information from you and your household members on symptoms and patterns of contact. Email us at  [email protected] .  Learn more .

Gait retraining for adults two years post ACL reconstruction

We are conducting a study on active feedback gait retraining and are interested in determining if knee joint loading and cartilage structure will change before and after the program. You may be eligible if you are:

(1) 18-40 years old and

(2) had a primary, unilateral ACL reconstruction about 2 years ago

To find out more about the study, please check the study webpage and contact us ( [email protected] ).

Adults with depression wanted for research study

Stanford’s Virtual Reality-Immersive Technology (VR-IT) Clinic & Laboratory is inviting people who experience symptoms of depression to participate in an immersive virtual experience and receive free evidence-based therapy. Participation may include using a Quest virtual reality headset, a mobile application, and completing questionnaires regarding your experience. Participation takes approximately 60 minutes per week for 3 weeks.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact  [email protected]  or call 650-736-1569 to sign up.

For general participant’s rights questions, contact 1-866-680-2906.

Young and old participants wanted for skin aging study

Stanford Dermatology is looking for participants aged 18-30 and participants older than 70 years old to participate in our skin aging study. Participants can be of any gender as long as they are non-smoking and not pregnant or breastfeeding. Learn more .

Long-COVID and Paxlovid treatment study at Stanford

​The goal of this Stanford research study is to find out if the drug Paxlovid (a drug that works against the COVID-19 virus) can treat Long-COVID symptoms.

Long-COVID: A wide range of symptoms that develop and persist after COVID-19 infection. Learn more .

HOPE Project: Recurrent pregnancy loss study at Stanford

We are enrolling men, women, and couples who have experienced pregnancy loss. Participants will be asked to complete an online survey and donate a blood or saliva sample for DNA analysis. This data will help us find patterns in recurrent pregnancy loss and better understand your journey. Learn more .

Thinking about LASIK?

Adults sought for laser vision correction research study 

The Stanford Eye Laser Center is accepting participants for a research study assessing outcomes after small incision lenticule surgery. Learn more .

Never had COVID? Recently had COVID? You can help us understand long-COVID

Join a study to help us find ways to prevent and treat the long-term health effects of COVID, called long-COVID. 

Researchers will compare people who never had COVID or who just had COVID – this helps us learn things that may be related to long-COVID, such as certain symptoms or health conditions. You can join if you’ve never had COVID or if you had COVID in the last 2-4 weeks.

We need adults from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds to join. Please see attached flyers for more information.  Email  for more information.

Pregnancy and heart health

Are you currently pregnant and interested in how pregnancy affects your heart health? This innovative study known as EPOCH is hoping to improve the identification and treatment of women at an increased risk of heart disease. 

You may be eligible if: 

• You are currently pregnant (32+ weeks of gestation)
• Between the ages of 18 and 45 years old
• Were diagnosed with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia during this pregnancy or have a normal pregnancy and are willing to participate in a comparison group. To see if you qualify, please contact us at 650-725-5720 or email at  [email protected] .

Summer Reading Intervention Study

Children ages 8 to 11 (current 3rd-5th graders) with reading difficulties are needed for a brain-imaging study at Stanford that includes 8 weeks of intensive and targeted reading instruction provided at no cost. We are interested in the effects of reading instruction on brain development. If qualified, commitment to this study is extensive and will involve multiple visits to the lab for brain scans (MRI) and behavioral tests. Participants will be compensated for each visit. Sign up at dyslexia.stanford.edu to complete a screening form and have your child be considered for this study.

Healthy Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for healthy pediatric volunteers (and healthy adults up to 24 years old) to help in our study of sudden-onset psychiatric disease.

• No current or past mental health concerns (i.e. anxiety, ADHD, depression, OCD, tics)
• Willing to complete questionnaires and at least one blood draw
• $50 for each blood draw

To get started, please take this survey:  https://redcap.stanford.edu/surveys/?s=TRYPJMWMX37EHFM4

For more information, contact:   [email protected]

For general rights for research participants, contact 1-866-680-2906

Learn more .

Depression treatment study

​The Stanford Medicine Depression Research Clinic is currently enrolling for a study evaluating an oral medication to treat depression or major depressive disorder. Participants must be ages 18-65 and must have been diagnosed with and currently experiencing depression or major depresssive disorder. Learn more .

ADVANCE study on blood donor eligibility

Stanford Blood Center is proud to participate in an FDA study that could potentially lead to a change in blood donor eligibility for men who have sex with men (MSM). The center welcomes participants who are 18 to 39 years old to enroll in the study at our research site in Palo Alto (3373 Hillview Avenue). Learn more .

Research study on mealtime inhaled insulin for kids and teenagers with diabetes

Looking for a change to your child’s mealtime insulin regimen? Learn more about a new study on mealtime inhaled insulin for kids and teenagers ages 4-17 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are not currently on insulin pumps. Visit the  study website  for more information and to see if your child is eligible. You can also give us a call at (650) 498-4976 or email the study coordinator Dom Mitchell at [email protected].

Participants needed for brain development study on girls with typical development

The Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR) are studying brain development in relation to behavior, cognition and mood in girls aged 6-14 with typical development. The project uses fNIRS and is designed to improve our understanding of brain and behavioral growth in girls during a critical time in their development. You will receive a $50 honorarium for participation. If interested, email Safiyyah Bachar at [email protected] or call (650)883-8393. Or fill out our interest survey here .  Learn more .

SPARK for Autism

SPARK will be the largest autism study in US history and the goal is to speed up research to better understand genetic causes and treatments for ASD. There is no cost to join SPARK and participation can be completed entirely online and from home. You will also receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your family’s participation as a small token of appreciation! You can find out more or register  here . If you have any questions, please email:  [email protected] . Learn more .

Participants wanted for Male Fertility Study

Interested in learning about your fertility? We are recruiting for a Urology study looking for East Asian (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, or Taiwanese) males to participate in our study. Participants will receive a $20 amazon gift card for their time. If you or anyone you know who might be interested in finding out more information please reach out to Satvir Basran at  [email protected]  for more details. Learn more .

Calling pediatricians to participate in a Happy Health Bladder focus group

We are interested in learning more about how pediatricians in northern and central California understand and approach bladder problems in young children. This information may be used to develop new programs to help families of children with bladder problems. Upon completing participation, you will be compensated with a $50 Amazon gift card! Learn more .

PET-MR imaging study of COVID-19 associated neurological complications

We need volunteers! Reach out to help us battle COVID-19 by participating in the evaluation of new PET technology for simultaneous PET/MR imaging of the brain. Learn more .

Participants needed to assess fall risk and improve hearing aid use

Individuals above the age of 55 years are invited to participate in a research study conducted at Stanford. We are using advanced-technology hearing aids equipped with motion tracking sensors to assist in the assessment of balance abilities and improve speech intelligibility. To qualify for the fall risk phases, at least one of the following should apply to you: 

• Feel unsteady while walking
• Worry about falling or have fallen in the last year

Participate in the Teen Health Study

The Teen Health Study is investigating factors of healthy adolescent development and eating behaviors! We hope to use the results of our study to inform future eating disorder prevention programs. If you are a parent with a 13–15-year-old daughter, we invite you to join us! You could receive up to $255!  Learn more . 

Contact the study coordinator at  [email protected] . If interested, here’s the  interest form !

Healthy older adult volunteers wanted for study on attention, memory and aging

The Stanford Memory Lab is looking for healthy older adults to participate in a study on attention and memory.

We need participants between the ages of 65 and 80; right-handed; able to lie flat for an MRI scan and hear without aid; no history of memory loss or neurological illness; no MRI-incompatible metal implants; normal or corrected-to-normal vision; and no color blindness. Learn more .

Seeking participants for study on voice problems associated with aging

If you are 60 years old or above and having voice problems associated with aging, you may be eligible to participate in a research study on using voice and breathing exercises to improve your voice. Contact Theresa Yao at  [email protected]  or (650) 690-1031 for more information. Each participant will receive up to $100 Amazon gift cards for completion of the study.

Participate in study on long COVID at Stanford

The NIH RECOVER study on long COVID aims to enroll ~17K participants across the country to understand who recovers well from COVID and who is more likely to get long COVID and to identify ways to prevent and treat this condition. Anyone who is >18 years old & has had COVID (either recently or in the last two years) can participate in the Stanford study. If interested, email  [email protected] .  Learn more .

Participate in the Diabetes Body Acceptance Program

The Diabetes Body Acceptance Program is comparing two programs designed to improve body acceptance, reduce body image concerns, and reduce disordered eating behaviors. Female identifying individuals between the ages of 15-30 with Type 1 Diabetes who have body image concerns and/or struggle with disordered eating behaviors are invited to participate. Learn more .

Twin Nutrition study

The Nutrition Studies Research Group is recruiting adult identical twins to participate in a diet intervention study. Twin pairs will be randomized to eat vegan or omnivorous for 8 weeks. They will receive free meal delivery for the first 4 weeks. Participants will need to come to Stanford for 3 blood draws and provide stool samples from home.  Learn more .

Stanford Women's Heart Health study

Are you between the ages of 21-55? Has it been over two years since you delivered a baby at Stanford/Lucile Packard Children's Hospital? You may be eligible to participate in a research study about the connections between pregnancy and long-term heart health in women. Access the  survey  and see if you qualify. You can also contact us at (650) 725-0620 or by email at  [email protected] . Learn more .

Hair biomarkers study for child wellness and health

We’re partnering with families and young children (aged 9-72 months) for research on early childhood wellness by measuring various biomarkers in painlessly obtained hair samples. Our convenient, contact-free enrollment helps you to give informed consent, obtain hair sample(s), and complete online questionnaires. We offer junior scientist certificates and gift cards of $75 for each child and $25 for each parent. Visit our  website  and  apply here . For questions, please contact us at  [email protected] .

​Participate in Stanford study on risk factors of eating disorders

Do you have a daughter between the ages of 13-15? Then you may be eligible to participate in a teen health study. Our study is investigating risk factors of eating disorders and we hope to use the results to inform future eating disorder prevention programs.  Learn more  or take the  eligibility survey . Contact the study coordinator at  [email protected]  or (650) 549-4829. For participant’s rights questions, contact 1-866-680-2906.

Healthy subjects needed for PET/MRI study

We are seeking male participants, ages 22-30 years old, for our PET/MRI study that images synapses in the brain with a recently developed radiotracer [11C]UCB-J. This is the first in-human tracer of the synapse in the brain. Our goal of this study is to see if there is reduced synaptic density in schizophrenia versus healthy people. $250 for completion of the study.  Learn more .

You may be eligible for a study on OCD

The Rodriguez lab at Stanford is looking for individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) who are not satisfied taking standard medication treatment. You may be eligible to participate in a study with an investigational medication that would be added to your current treatment. Participants are compensated. If you would like to learn more, contact us at  [email protected]  or (650) 723-4095.  Learn more .

Math Training Study for children with autism

We are currently seeking 2nd-4th grade children with high-functioning autism who are right-handed and do not have metal in their bodies/mouth. The study will include tutoring, take-home games, multiple visits & assessments, and MRI scans where children play games while we take cool pictures of their brain. Participants receive up to $375 upon study completion, pictures of your brain, and a Stanford Brain Development T-Shirt. If interested, please fill out a form  here . Learn more .

Math Learning Study for elementary school kids

The Stanford Brain Development Project is looking for right-handed, 2nd-4th graders without metal in their bodies. The study will include tutoring and take-home tablet games, multiple visits & assessments, and MRI scans where children play games while pictures of their brain are taken. Participants will receive up to $325 upon study completion, a picture of their brain, and a Stanford Brain Development T-Shirt. If interested, please fill out a form  here . Learn more .

Flex Study (Fluoxetine/Dextromethorphan in Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders: an Open-Label Crossover Pilot Study)

Rodriguez/Translational Therapeutics Laboratory is actively screening individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and the related disorders body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), illness anxiety disorder (IAD) and somatic symptom disorder (SSD) for our Flex Study

Purpose: To understand whether dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter cough medicine, may bring about improvement in symptoms of OCD and other disorders characterized by recurrent intrusive thoughts when used together with fluoxetine. Learn more .

NOOC (Nitrous Oxide in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) Study.

Rodriguez/Translational Therapeutics Laboratory is actively screening individuals with OCD for our NOOC study.

Purpose: To understand whether inhaled nitrous oxide may bring about rapid improvement in OCD symptoms. See if you are eligible and learn more .

Online paid research study: Understanding suicide attempt risk factors

Have you had suicidal thoughts in the past month?

Have you ever attempted suicide? Contribute to reducing suicide by volunteering in a Stanford University research study funded by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Learn more .

Parents & teens needed for Android phone study

We're seeking teen (13-17) and parent Android users for a study on smartphone use.

At least one teen and at least one parent from your family are needed. Participants need to be Android phone users and live in the United States. Each participant will receive up to $125 in e-gift cards for their time and effort. For more details about the study, please visit our  website .

Looking for healthy East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Taiwanese) men, ages 18-50, Study participation includes a ~30 min in-person clinic visit and a short survey. Volunteers will be compensated with a $20 Amazon giftcard for their participation. Please contact Satvir Basran: email  [email protected] for more information. Participant rights questions, contact 1-866-680-2906.

Accerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treatment Resistant Major Depression

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is effective at inducing antidepressant responses in patients with treatment-resistant depression.  Initial studies suggest that rTMS could be effective at inducing antidepressant responses transdiagnostically but responses typically take two to four weeks. A new type of rTMS, intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), has been shown to be five times more potent than traditional rTMS. More potent stimulation means patients can be stimulated for less time, meaning more sessions could be administered per day, potentially resulting in much faster antidepressant responses.

Eligibility Requirements

• Primary Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder
• tried at least 1 anti-depressant medication
• No history of Seizures or diagnosis of Epilepsy

Ultrashort Light Pulses as a Personalized Countermeasure for Circadian Desynchrony

Stanford University and the Palo Alto VA are seeking participants, ages 18-35, for a research study investigating the use of bright light to improve nighttime alertness and change the timing of the circadian clock.

Learn more . 

Research Participants Wanted for TIRED-Brain Study

Unhealthy sleep patterns can contribute to emotional distress by disrupting the brain networks that regulate emotion. Several lines of evidence suggest that insomnia contributes to emotionally distressing depressive mood symptoms.

Investigating the immune system in the disease process of schizophrenia

Looking for healthy volunteers, Ages 18-40, without medical or mental health diagnoses, or current use of cannabis or any illegal substances.

Study participation includes 2 parts: video interview and in person blood draw, height and weight measurement and urine drug screen.

Volunteers will be compensated $30 for their participation.

Please contact Dr. Anker: email  [email protected]  for more information

Participant rights questions, contact 1-866-680-2906

Systemic Allergic Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Study

Are you interested in getting vaccinated against COVID-19? 

We are looking for volunteers for a COVID-19 vaccine research study. 

The Systemic Allergic Reactions to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination study is recruiting volunteers to receive one of the two mRNA vaccines - Pfizer BioNtech COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. These are the same vaccines that have received emergency use authorization by the FDA and are being used at public vaccination sites. 

You may qualify if you are 18-69 years of age and:

• You have a history of Severe Allergies, OR
• You have been diagnosed with a Mast Cell Disorder, OR
• You have a history of No Allergies

For more information, please contact the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at 650-521-7237 or  [email protected] .

Healthy subjects needed for PET/MRI Study  

We are seeking  male participants, ages 22-30 years old , for our PET/MRI study that images synapses in the brain with a recently developed radiotracer C11-UBC-J. This is the first in-human tracer of the synapse in the brain. Our goal of this study is to see if there is reduced synaptic density in schizophrenia versus healthy people.

• One visit, if eligible, to Stanford Lucas Center for up to 4.5 hours of study participation
• 1.5 hour scan
• 1 hour of cognitive testing
• 1 hour clinical interview, if applicable
• $250 for completion of the study

Potential risks/discomfort

• Injection of radioactive material required for PET scan
• Intravenous (IV) delivery of radiotracer needed
• Lying down for a long period of time

For more information, contact us at (650)-849-0552 or email us at  [email protected]

Healthy Adults Needed for FLASH Study

Two separate lab stays, each consisting of: 

• 2-day/night stay at the VA Sleep Lab
• 2 weeks of at-home sleep monitoring using a wrist-watch device
• In lab performance will be tested using flight simulation software

Participants must be healthy, non-smokers, without sleep problems. Volunteers paid up to $700 for successful completion of both 2-day/night stays in VA Sleep Lab.

For more information, please contact Yvonne Quevedo at (650) 849-1971 or email [email protected]

For further information regarding questions, concerns, or complaints about research, research related injury, and questions about the rights of research participants, please call (650) 723-5244 or call toll free 1-866-680-2906 or write the Administrative Panel on Human Subjects in Medical Research, Administrative Panels Office, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5401.

Calling all vaccinated individuals to join COVID-19 post-Vaccination Safety Study 

HERO-TOGETHER is a research study, funded by PCOR (Patient-Centered-Outcome-Research) for Vaccinated Healthcare Workers, their families, and their larger communities, to help the researchers understand the health effects of the COVID-19 vaccines over time. By joining this study, you will help the researchers learn how the vaccine affects healthcare workers and how different people do after vaccination.  

Please join HERO-TOGETHER study at  http://heroesresearch.org/together

Confirming the Efficacy/Mechanism of Family Therapy for Children with Low Weight Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) 

Children ages 6-12 with a diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and their families are invited to participate in a Family-Based Treatment (FBT) vs. a manualized Non-Specific Care (NSC) research study through the Stanford Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The study consists of 14 one-hour telehealth sessions in either treatment arm, along with required medical management, over the course of 4 months. Treatment will be provided by doctoral-level, highly skilled therapists.

Who Can Participate?

• Children ages 6-12
• Current diagnosis of ARFID
• Able to speak English
• Living with at least one parent (the whole family will be enrolled for treatment)
• Medically stable for outpatient treatment
• Able to make a 6-month commitment

For more information, or to sign up for the study, please email Eliza at  [email protected] , or call her at (650) 723-5521. Please reach out to Eliza with any questions or concerns!

The Effects of Micro Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT) Injections on Knee Osteoarthritis

We aim to determine whether MFAT injection as an alternative therapy in patients with degenerative arthritis will result in improved clinical outcomes and structural improvement compared to conventional therapy. This study will be a randomized controlled trial to compare outcomes between intra-articular injection of MFAT and intra-articular injection of corticosteroid. We are recruiting patients who are 25-75 years old, diagnosed with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee(s), and have previous trial and failure of conservative therapy.

For more information, please email  [email protected]  or call (650)723-0003.  

Longitudinal Effects of Dietary Fiber Supplementation

The study uses a big data systems biology approach to find detailed effects of purified dietary fiber supplementation. Genomic and microbiome data will be returned participants. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, and not pregnant. During the initial visit, researchers will collect samples for genomic analysis. The participation period will have four cycles that take approximately seven weeks from start to finish. For more information contact  Alessandra Celli .

Molecular Profiling of COVID-19 Vaccine Response – At-home Microsampling Study

You are invited to participate in a research study to better understand your how body responds to COVID-19 vaccination. Participants must be 18 years or older, live in the United States, and not yet received any COVID-19 vaccine.  

We hope to learn more about COVID-19 vaccination through monitoring of molecules in your blood and stool using multi-omics profiling. “Multi-omics” means we will be looking at many different types of molecules, including: metabolites, lipids, proteins, and antibodies.

You will receive a study kit and complete the study from home. Your first vaccine appointment should be at least 2 week after the date you enroll in the study. For details and to enroll, please visit  https://snyderlabs.stanford.edu/vaccine . For questions, please email  [email protected] .

Stanford’s new COVID-19 Study Directory:   https://stan.md/covid19-participate

Browse and connect with actively recruiting COVID-19 studies at Stanford.

Stanford Medicine researchers and scientists have launched dozens of research projects as part of the global response to COVID-19. Some aim to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease; others aim to understand how it spreads and how people’s immune systems respond to it.

By participating in our COVID-19 clinical research, you help accelerate medical science by providing valuable insights into potential treatments and methods of prevention.

Stanford Researchers : To have your study listed here, following IRB and COVID-19 Review Panel approvals, please contact Stanford Research Participation at  [email protected]

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Stanford researchers are recruiting participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who struggle with negative symptoms (such as inactivity, social withdrawal and emotional inexpressiveness). The purpose of this study is to find out what effects the study medication RO6889450 has on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.  If you would like further information or you’re interested in taking part please contact us at  [email protected] .

The Gratitude Study

Stanford researchers are recruiting participants with schizophrenia who have experienced weight gain due to taking antipsychotic medications. The purpose of this study is to find out whether an investigational study drug, Miricorilant, is safe and effective in reducing weight gain in participants taking antipsychotic medications. If you would like further information or you’re interested in taking part please contact us at  [email protected] .

Improving Cognition via Exercise in Schizophrenia (ICE)

Participants are invited to take part in a research study investigating the influence of exercise on cognitive functioning in individuals with schizophrenia. This study will examine the impact of exercise training on cognition, suicide risk, daily functioning, and biomarkers of cognitive change and suicidality in people with schizophrenia. Eligible participants will be randomized into aerobic exercise training or stretching and toning exercise training. Participants in both groups will take part in a 12-week, 3 times per week, 1-hour training program, in addition to their regular treatment. If you’re interested in taking part please contact us at  [email protected] .

Stanford Home Sleep Study

The Stanford Home Sleep Study is seeking participants with or without sleep-time teeth grinding for a remote study that investigates the relationship between sleep and well-being. Receive a personalized sleep report, earn up to $80, and provide information that may help us develop interventions aimed at improving sleep and quality of life.

Learn more here. 

For questions, email  [email protected] .

 Stanford Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability Research Registry

Does your child have autism? Researchers at Stanford University are developing a Research Registry to better understand the causes and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability (ID). The Research Registry will allow researchers to identify and recruit patients who might be eligible for participation in future research studies, and review and study the medical records of your child to help answer questions about ASD and/or ID and its treatment. In order to be part of the Research Registry, your child must have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disability.  There is no cost to participate. For more information, call (650) 736-1235. Register here:  http://med.stanford.edu/autism/registry.html

Stanford Hoarding Disorder Research Study

If you have difficulty with clutter, are feeling overwhelmed and needing help, and over 55, you may be eligible to receive peer-support group sessions paired with virtual reality (VR) sessions at no cost to you.

Physician Investigator: Carolyn Rodriguez, M.D, Ph.D., Stanford Medical Center

For more information contact:  [email protected]  ; 650-497-2577

Learn more here.  Participant's right questions, contact 1-866-680-2906.

COVID-19 long-term symptoms study

Stanford University researchers need your help to understand how COVID-19 symptoms evolve over time. Participants will be asked to fill out a brief online survey regarding their general health as well as symptoms that may have appeared after the COVID-19 illness began. The survey will repeat every three months for one year to assess change over time. Help spread the word and ask any adults you know who had or suspected they had COVID-19 to take this  quick survey.

SPARK for Autism seeks to speed up research and improve understanding of autism.  This includes learning what causes autism and how best to treat it. Stanford University and over 20 of the nation’s leading medical schools and autism research centers are part of this effort. Participating in SPARK is free and can be done entirely from home. Registration can be done entirely online at  www.SPARKforAutism.org/stanford   and typically takes about 20 minutes. To participate in SPARK, please register, complete a few questionnaires online, and provide a saliva sample using a saliva collection kit that will be shipped directly to your home. Please contact  [email protected]  with any questions.

Study on treatment resistant depression with suicidal ideation

A new study funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is recruiting people currently experiencing symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts.  All eligible participants will receive one infusion of ketamine followed by four weeks of a medication or placebo. You may be eligible to participate in this six-week study if you are between 18-70 years of age and have not responded to previous depression treatment.  Learn more about the study and complete an online screening form . Reach out to  Jessica Hawkins  with questions.

COVID-19 IRIS Study

The IRIS Study is currently seeking participants who have had symptoms of COVID-19 to learn more about infection recovery. Eligible subjects will be required to do an initial blood draw and participate in surveys, neuropsychological testing and a physical exam. There are two follow-up visits involving a chest x-ray and pulmonary function test. Participants will be compensated $80 per visit. For more information call (650) 498-7284 or  email Mallika Rao.

Favipiravir study for asymptomatic and mild COVID-19

Favipiravir, an antiviral medicine, is currently used to treat influenza in some countries as well as mild and asymptomatic COVID-19. Researchers at Stanford Medicine are investigating if favipiravir may help patients get better faster, prevent them from getting worse and lower the chance of infection. The study is open to people within two days after they have tested positive for COVID-19.  Learn more about the study . If you are interested in participating in the study, email  [email protected] .

Healthy Adults Needed for Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Study

A Stanford University team is conducting a study to learn about the relationship between diet , specifically fiber intake and cognitive function over time, to learn about lifestyle ways to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.

There are 3 data collection time points: at beginning, 6 months, and 1 year. These include:

• Online cognitive tests (duration of about 12 minutes)
• Filling diet records for 2 weeks and 1 diet questionnaire
• Self-collected blood microsample

All the testing will be done from your home with no need of physical visits. What you will receive:

• An analysis of your diet
• Any interesting results we learn from the relationships between diet and cognition

If interested, please contact the research team at [email protected]

Or visit our study webpage at   snyderlabs.stanford.edu/fiberandcognition

Submit a research participation opportunity Internal Communications Intake Form (smartsheet.com)

Research / A Closer Look at Gift Cards: U.S. Spend, Support, Sourcing, and Services for Gift Card Programs in Corporate Organizations

A Closer Look at Gift Cards: U.S. Spend, Support, Sourcing, and Services for Gift Card Programs in Corporate Organizations

by Incentive Research Foundation

2018 IGCC White Paper: A Closer Look at Gift Cards

Igcc irf reference deck.

As the most prevalent award type across all incentive and recognition program audiences—employees, sales, customers, and channel partners—gift cards deserve special attention. Truly a booming business, U.S. businesses spent $24 billion annually on B2B gift cards [i] .

To understand their prevalence deeper, the Incentive Research Foundation researched how gift cards are sourced for incentive and recognition programs, how much money is budgeted toward them, what types are being purchased, and where opportunities lie for stakeholders.

A survey was administered to 300 industry professionals who run incentive or recognition programs for their companies. Importantly then, the research’s findings—particularly those regarding awareness of sourcing options, purchase habits, and service ratings—are framed from the perspective of those individuals running these programs day in and day out in corporate America.

Respondents’ companies were classified as one of two business sizes:

Medium enterprises : Nearly half of the respondents (48%) run programs at companies with annual revenue between $100 million and $1 billion. There are nearly 18,000 businesses in the United States that fall in the medium enterprise revenue range.

Large enterprises : Conversely, just over half of the respondents (52%) indicated that their businesses have a revenue of more than $1 billion annually. There are only a little more than 2,600 businesses in the United States with at least $1 billion in revenue each year.

I. Budgets: Context and Spend

In 2016, 69% of medium-sized businesses purchased gift cards for rewards and recognition, while 61% of large firms purchased them. This is up from 2014, when 56% of business with revenue over $100 million purchased gift cards for incentive programs. Medium-sized firms spend an annual range of $290,000–$610,000 and an average of $450,000. Large firms ranged $680,000–$1,340,000 annually and spent $1,010,000 on average.

What program types/audiences are gift cards purchased for?

Companies—both medium and large—purchase B2B gift cards for an average of 2.5 to 3 different audiences, with employees, followed by sales, being the most frequent audience types. Budget allocation is a different story, though. For large enterprises, customer and sales audiences have the largest budgets for gift cards. Surprisingly, channel budgets are the largest for medium-sized businesses, followed by the budget for gift cards for customers.

What audience has largest budget for gift cards?

II. Start at the Source: Options, Awareness, Usage, and Satisfaction

Options: The survey identified five distinct sources for buying gift cards for incentive or rewards:

• Retail: Selecting cards from an array of local retail locations, such as a grocery store or pharmacy.
• Online General Retailer: Purchasing from an online marketplace such as Amazon or Zappos.
• Brand: Getting cards directly from a brands corporate office, e.g., working with Bed, Bath, & Beyond’s or Gap’s corporate office—not the local store—to buy gift cards.
• Gift Card Supplier: Getting gift cards from a company whose primary business is selling gift cards (e.g., Blackhawk Network, Giftcards.com).
• Agency: Getting cards from an incentive/promotional/marketing agency, who also helps design and run the program

Usage: Importantly, most U.S. businesses do not source gift cards for awards from a single source.  Both medium enterprise and large enterprise firms use an average of two sourcing channels for their gift cards.

Awareness vs. Satisfaction: One-third of reward and recognition buyers had limited to no awareness that there is an entire industry of gift card suppliers and agencies designed to supply a variety of gift cards to incentive programs. This presents significant growth opportunities for these sources. Additionally, agencies and gift card suppliers are the least commonly used channels for the purchase of gift cards as awards, while retail locations remain the most popular source. Alternatively, though, agencies, followed by gift card suppliers, have the highest buyer satisfaction rating, particularly when it comes to service offerings.

Support: Despite being generally satisfied with their chosen gift card purchase channels—whichever they may be—firms frequently support their gift card reward and recognition program services (e.g., communication, design, tracking, administration, etc.) internally. In medium-sized firms, the most commonly outsourced service to providers was issuance reporting (customer portals or other technology for tracking or reporting gift card issuances or distribution). In large firms, participant communications (including website, mobile app, etc.) were most commonly outsourced to gift card suppliers.

III. Types of Gift Cards: Options, Uses, and Prevalence

The survey identified five distinct types of gift cards, defined as follows:

• Open-Loop Cards: Prepaid cards, usually issued under a major credit card, redeemable anywhere that credit card is accepted (e.g., VISA prepaid cards).
• Closed-Loop Cards: Gift cards accepted by one merchant only, for example at a specific chain (e.g., Starbucks, Target), or retailer (e.g., iTunes).
• Restricted Cards: These fall in between open- and closed-loop cards and can be used at a limited number of merchants (e.g., a wellness reward gift card good for healthy restaurants and grocers).
• E-Gift Cards: Certificates or cards issued to the recipient via email or other electronic means.
• Gift Card Voucher: Cards, tokens, or codes given to recipients allowing them to select what type of gift card they want (e.g., a voucher good for a $50 gift card from one of 100 brands).

Closed-loop and open-loop are by far the most prevalent type of gift cards, with three-quarters of firms using each, though e-gift cards are gaining significant traction in the market, with half of large enterprises and 58% of medium enterprises utilizing them. The top closed-loop merchant categories are for dining/coffee, department stores, and exclusively online retailers, with electronics and music/movies used moderately.

IV. The Future of Gift Cards?

Given the demand for, and choice and ease of gift cards, it is hardly surprising that they are the predominant non-cash reward in incentives programs. There are strong indications budgets for gift cards are expected to grow in the coming year. With that additional budgeting come opportunities for a variety of sources to play to their unique strengths and grow their gift card business.

Thank you to our Research Advocacy Partner

[i] http://www.incentivefederation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Incentive-Marketplace-Estimate-Research-Study-2015-16-White-Paper.pdf

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This report explores how incentives professionals are using AI both in the travel and non-travel incentive arenas, information about the tools and programs they find most valuable relative to incentive programs, and the gains and impacts they’re experiencing as a result.

The AI Revolution: A Technical Review of AI Capabilities for Corporate Events, Rewards & Incentives 

Take a deep dive into AI capabilities, platform options, technical explanations, and a look at what lies ahead for the sophisticated use of this technology to enhance incentive and recognition programs. 

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Research Incentive Gift Cards

Effective September 15, 2017

Departments conducting studies with volunteer participants are required to track any and all forms of payments (i.e. cash, check, gift cards or in-kind merchandise) to study participants.  Payment mechanisms for study participants must follow respective  Tufts Accounts Payable policies  and related  Study Participant Payments Decision Tree .

The department must obtain an IRS Form W-9 from the individual and forward it to Accounts Payable with the total amount paid if the amount paid is greater than or equal to $600.

All payments to non-resident aliens (regardless of the amount) are subject to a 30% tax withholding. Due to the withholding and reporting requirements, all non-resident aliens receiving such payments must have a U.S. tax identification number (social security number or ITIN) and must be processed through the Accounts Payable system. A non-resident alien cannot be paid cash or cash equivalents.  An IRS Form W8-BEN and an Alien Payment Form are required.  Please contact Accounts Payable with any questions regarding payments to a non-resident alien.

Purchase of Incentive Gift Cards

Bulk P-card purchases of research incentive gift cards for volunteer participants, including eGift cards or store cards, must be charged initially to a non-sponsored account (DeptID) except as noted below. After distribution to subjects participating in sponsored projects, the amount corresponding to the purchase value of the distributed incentive cards should be moved to an appropriate sponsored project account using a  cost transfer .

OVPR Post-Award office approves allocations of incentive cards to sponsored awards via  cost transfer  paperwork. Cost transfer must be submitted within 90 days from the end of the month in which the incentive cards were  distributed  to the study participants.

Incentive cards for “immediate distribution” (within 3 months from purchase) to the subjects can be charged directly to a sponsored account. The cost of any cards not distributed to the subjects of the study funded by the sponsored account must be transferred to a non-sponsored account (DeptID) at the end of the third month. If any remaining gift cards are subsequently distributed to participant(s) then the value can be transfer back to the sponsored project account as described above.  No undistributed gift cards shall remain on a sponsored account for more than 3 months.

The approval of allowability for the purchase of cards for “immediate distribution” and direct posting to a sponsored account must be obtained by submitting to  [email protected]  a memo describing the vendor, the method of purchase, denomination of incentive cards, and total number of incentive cards for the study. Post-Award will forward the approval to the Disbursement Compliance Analyst who maintains it in the file as backup documentation for the P-card or general audit.

Tufts units that conduct large volume of sponsored studies where incentive cards are issued to study participants may seek a blanket pre-approval from Post-Award to direct charge incentive cards to sponsored accounts when appropriate. Such pre-approval will only be issued when the unit has documented standard operating procedures for management of incentive card purchases and designated an individual to conduct regular inventory of incentive cards and audit proper charging.

All incentive card purchases on the P-card must be consistently coded using 5136 - Volunteer Subject Payments.

The department must upload the receipt / confirmation from the vendor website from the online vendor to the PeopleSoft P-Card application for purchase of any incentive cards whether purchasing them in small number or in bulk. This receipt should be added to the PeopleSoft P-card transaction by clicking on the “Justification Full Screen” icon. The attachment can be added on either unposted or posted transaction pages. Attaching the receipt in the system facilitates providing documentation for  external and internal audits and reduces requests for documentation from the departments. For additional information on how to attach paperwork within PeopleSoft please see  PCard User Guide .

Distribution of Incentive Cards to Subjects

Documentation showing evidence of distribution of incentive cards is required, including instances when the approval of allowability has been obtained in advance. If the names of study participants must remain confidential, a unique participant ID must be assigned on the documentation.

A distribution log must be provided in order for allocating the cost of incentive cards to sponsored award(s). The log should list names of volunteer subjects or their participant IDs, value of received incentive cards, date of receipt, and the following additional information as appropriate for the type of distribution:

• In-person distribution : signatures of the subjects who received the incentive cards.
• If sent directly to participants electronically: vendor receipt showing recipient and delivery details and confirmation of delivery.
• Distribution by email:  a copy of the emails sent, as well as a read receipt for each or a confirmation from the person that they received it.

Distribution by mail:  a copy of delivery confirmation. Incentive cards must be sent via USPS Registered Mail, UPS, or Fedex with signature required from the recipient. NOTE: The fees charged for the registered mail and delivery confirmation must be allocated to a DeptID or other unrestricted fund unless allocation to the award is approved by the sponsor.

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For Gift Giving, Research Shows It's the Thought That Counts

Cathy Cassata is a freelance writer who specializes in stories around health, mental health, medical news, and inspirational people.

Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle.

Bailey Mariner / Verywell

Key Takeaways

• Gift givers often mistake value over thoughtfulness as being most appreciated by gift recipients.
• Research shows that gift givers overestimate how much a recipient’s liking of their gift increases or decreases when it compares favorably or unfavorably to other gifts.
• Sharing the story behind a gift and not comparing your gift to others can make gift buying less stressful.

Finding the right gift can be stressful , especially when the receiver will be opening gifts from others, such as at birthdays, winter holidays, graduations, retirement parties, and bridal and baby showers.

“A lot of times, we tend to give things that will make for a great time when the bow comes off, but what people actually want to receive, if you ask them, are things that are not great in the moment, but great down the line, from a long-term perspective,” Julian Givi , PhD, assistant professor of marketing at West Virginia University, tells Verywell.

Givi led research that examined 12 studies about gift-giving.   Researchers discovered that gift givers overestimate how much a recipient’s liking of their gift increases or decreases when it compares favorably or unfavorably to other gifts.

This is driven by the giver’s incorrect assumption that recipients appreciate the value of a gift over its thoughtfulness.

Julian Givi, PhD

When you are receiving something, you’re not too worried about how the gift compares in cost to other gifts because you are focused on the idea and thought. You’ll like it despite what others give you.

“When you are receiving something, you’re not too worried about how the gift compares in cost to other gifts because you are focused on the idea and thought. You’ll like it despite what others give you,” says Givi.

Mistaking Cost for Value

Givi points out that all people involved in gift-giving and receiving focus on thoughtfulness, but will incorrectly believe that others focus on relative gift value. Because of this misconception, when givers know beforehand that others will be giving gifts at the same occasion, they are more likely to spend more money upgrading their gifts, or skip the gift-giving occasion.

For example, if a gift giver plans to give a $25 gift card, but knows someone will give a $50 gift card, they are more likely to one up, as opposed to knowing someone will give only a $5 gift card.

Givi says this happens for two reasons.

“First is that in relation to the $50 gift card, I think my $25 gift isn’t going to be liked much, so as a giver, I’m going to want to make the person happy and upping it might do the job. Second, I don’t want to look bad. Basically, it could be a negative experience for you if you don’t like it and a negative experience for me because I might look embarrassed, and that might not make for a good time for everyone,” explains Givi.

Kathleen Vohs , PhD, chair in marketing at the University of Minnesota, adds that gift value is easily understood and comparable.

“Meaning that we grasp whether one gift was costlier than another…so if you want to choose a gift that’s not likely to make the receiver unhappy, choosing an expensive one is safe,” Vohs says.

By contrast, she says thoughtfulness is vague.

“[A] gift considered to be rather unthoughtful to one person wouldn’t be considered the same for another, so gift givers may not be very sure what it means to buy a gift for thoughtfulness,” says Vohs.

Because what the gift giver thinks is a thoughtful gift may not be perceived that way to the receiver, she says the risk of choosing the wrong gift is higher, especially when compared to buying for price.

Since gift givers are often gift recipients at some point, can’t they just tap into their gift receiving side?

Givi says it’s not that easy.

“When in one role, it is not easy to take a step back and think, ‘What would it be like if I were in the other role?’ We just aren't hard-wired to do so, much like we don't take the time to think about the other person's perspective when in an argument or a negotiation,” he says.

However, Givi’s research shows that when givers are forced to think of themselves as a gift recipient when buying a gift, they often make better choices.

Vohs, agrees, noting that it’s challenging to really know what someone else thinks or wants.

Kathleen Vohs, PhD

As a gift giver, I could choose a gift that would be thoughtful if I were receiving it, but that may not be what the other person would think is thoughtful.

"I may think it was very thoughtful to have my romantic partner make me a card, whereas if I did that for my partner, they may have preferred that we have a unique experience together," she says. "Meaning, as a gift giver, I could choose a gift that would be thoughtful if I were receiving it, but that may not be what the other person would think is thoughtful."

Tips for Buying a Gift

To take the stress out of gift giving, consider the following:

Forget About the Unveiling

Rather than envisioning the moment when the recipient opens your gift, Givi says think about the days, weeks, months, and years ahead in which they will think about using the gift.

“That could be practical, useful, sentimental, something that might grow with time, such as if a family has a baby, rather than giving them infant clothes, it would be more useful to give them older clothes that will fit when the child is say 2 to 4 years old,” he says.

Share the Story Behind Your Gift

To take the focus off the cost of a gift, Vohs suggests conveying how much you tried to find the right gift, without bragging.

“That way, even if choosing a gift that doesn’t, on the surface, come off as very thoughtful, the receiver can get a sense of the effort and intention behind it,” she says.

Don’t Compare Your Gift to Others'

Buy the gift you think is best suited, and don’t worry about how it will compare to what other people give.

“[Also], don’t adjust your spending level based on this concern, as recipients' liking of gifts does not depend on comparisons ,” says Givi.

Put Yourself in the Receiver’s Shoes

As hard as it can be, Vohs says imagine how you feel and think when receiving gifts.

“The more that you can be happy and grateful when you are receiving a gift, the more you may realize that, in general, people are going to be fine with whatever you get them,” she says.

Consider Monetary Gifts

While givers often avoid giving monetary gifts, Givi says recipients are open to receiving them.

“That fits the idea of exchange versus ownership. As a giver, giving someone $20 dollars seems like a lame birthday present, but as a recipient it might be more useful to me than a shirt down the road; I can buy whatever I want,” he says.

Gift Out of the Blue

While we often give gifts on holidays and birthdays, we rarely give people gifts unexpectedly.

“If you give me something on my birthday, I may be a little sensitive to what the gift is. If you give me something on a Tuesday, I’ll love it no matter what,” says Givi. “These gifts are well received. They make the person feel thought about and cared for.”

What This Means For You

The stress of gift giving can turn to joy when you realize that gift recipients appreciate the thoughtfulness of a gift over its value.

Givi J, Galak B, Olivolab C. The thought that counts is the one we ignore: How givers overestimate the importance of relative gift value . Journal of Business Research . 2021. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.10.009

By Cathy Cassata Cathy Cassata is a freelance writer who specializes in stories around health, mental health, medical news, and inspirational people.

AI Index Report

Welcome to the seventh edition of the AI Index report. The 2024 Index is our most comprehensive to date and arrives at an important moment when AI’s influence on society has never been more pronounced. This year, we have broadened our scope to more extensively cover essential trends such as technical advancements in AI, public perceptions of the technology, and the geopolitical dynamics surrounding its development. Featuring more original data than ever before, this edition introduces new estimates on AI training costs, detailed analyses of the responsible AI landscape, and an entirely new chapter dedicated to AI’s impact on science and medicine.

Read the 2024 AI Index Report

The AI Index report tracks, collates, distills, and visualizes data related to artificial intelligence (AI). Our mission is to provide unbiased, rigorously vetted, broadly sourced data in order for policymakers, researchers, executives, journalists, and the general public to develop a more thorough and nuanced understanding of the complex field of AI.

The AI Index is recognized globally as one of the most credible and authoritative sources for data and insights on artificial intelligence. Previous editions have been cited in major newspapers, including the The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Guardian, have amassed hundreds of academic citations, and been referenced by high-level policymakers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, among other places. This year’s edition surpasses all previous ones in size, scale, and scope, reflecting the growing significance that AI is coming to hold in all of our lives.

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Ray Perrault

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Erik Brynjolfsson

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Katrina Ligett

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James Manyika

Juan Carlos Niebles

Vanessa Parli

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Russell Wald

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Letter from the co-directors.

A decade ago, the best AI systems in the world were unable to classify objects in images at a human level. AI struggled with language comprehension and could not solve math problems. Today, AI systems routinely exceed human performance on standard benchmarks.

Progress accelerated in 2023. New state-of-the-art systems like GPT-4, Gemini, and Claude 3 are impressively multimodal: They can generate fluent text in dozens of languages, process audio, and even explain memes. As AI has improved, it has increasingly forced its way into our lives. Companies are racing to build AI-based products, and AI is increasingly being used by the general public. But current AI technology still has significant problems. It cannot reliably deal with facts, perform complex reasoning, or explain its conclusions.

AI faces two interrelated futures. First, technology continues to improve and is increasingly used, having major consequences for productivity and employment. It can be put to both good and bad uses. In the second future, the adoption of AI is constrained by the limitations of the technology. Regardless of which future unfolds, governments are increasingly concerned. They are stepping in to encourage the upside, such as funding university R&D and incentivizing private investment. Governments are also aiming to manage the potential downsides, such as impacts on employment, privacy concerns, misinformation, and intellectual property rights.

As AI rapidly evolves, the AI Index aims to help the AI community, policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and the general public navigate this complex landscape. It provides ongoing, objective snapshots tracking several key areas: technical progress in AI capabilities, the community and investments driving AI development and deployment, public opinion on current and potential future impacts, and policy measures taken to stimulate AI innovation while managing its risks and challenges. By comprehensively monitoring the AI ecosystem, the Index serves as an important resource for understanding this transformative technological force.

On the technical front, this year’s AI Index reports that the number of new large language models released worldwide in 2023 doubled over the previous year. Two-thirds were open-source, but the highest-performing models came from industry players with closed systems. Gemini Ultra became the first LLM to reach human-level performance on the Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) benchmark; performance on the benchmark has improved by 15 percentage points since last year. Additionally, GPT-4 achieved an impressive 0.97 mean win rate score on the comprehensive Holistic Evaluation of Language Models (HELM) benchmark, which includes MMLU among other evaluations.

Although global private investment in AI decreased for the second consecutive year, investment in generative AI skyrocketed. More Fortune 500 earnings calls mentioned AI than ever before, and new studies show that AI tangibly boosts worker productivity. On the policymaking front, global mentions of AI in legislative proceedings have never been higher. U.S. regulators passed more AI-related regulations in 2023 than ever before. Still, many expressed concerns about AI’s ability to generate deepfakes and impact elections. The public became more aware of AI, and studies suggest that they responded with nervousness.

Ray Perrault Co-director, AI Index

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Write down your thoughts and shred them to relieve anger, researchers say

Writing negative reactions on paper and shredding it or scrunching and throwing in the bin eliminates angry feelings, study finds

Since time immemorial humans have tried to devise anger management techniques.

In ancient Rome, the Stoic philosopher Seneca believed “my anger is likely to do me more harm than your wrong” and offered avoidance tips in his AD45 work De Ira (On Anger).

More modern methods include a workout on the gym punchbag or exercise bike. But the humble paper shredder may be a more effective – and accessible – way to decompress, according to research.

A study in Japan has found that writing down your reaction to a negative incident on a piece of paper and then shredding it, or scrunching it into a ball and throwing it in the bin, gets rid of anger.

“We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent,” said Nobuyuki Kawai, lead researcher of the study at Nagoya University. “However, we were amazed that anger was eliminated almost entirely.”

The study, published in Scientific Reports on Nature , builds on research on the association between the written word and anger reduction as well as studies showing how interactions with physical objects can control a person’s mood. For instance, those wanting revenge on an ex-partner may burn letters or destroy gifts.

Researchers believe the shredder results may be related to the phenomenon of “backward magical contagion”, which is the belief that actions taken on an object associated with a person can affect the individuals themselves. In this case, getting rid of the negative physical entity, the piece of paper, causes the original emotion to also disappear.

This is a reversal of “magical contagion” or “celebrity contagion” – the belief that the “essence” of an individual can be transferred through their physical possessions.

Fifty student participants were asked to write brief opinions about an important social problem, such as whether smoking in public should be outlawed. Evaluators then deliberately scored the papers low on intelligence, interest, friendliness, logic, and rationality. For good measure, evaluators added insulting comments such as: “I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university.”

The wound-up participants then wrote down their angry thoughts on the negative feedback on a piece of paper. One group was told to either roll up the paper and throw it in a bin or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to shred the paper, or put it in a plastic box.

Anger levels of the individuals who discarded their paper in the bin or shredded it returned to their initial state, while those who retained a hard copy of the paper experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger.

Researchers concluded that “the meaning (interpretation) of disposal plays a critical role” in reducing anger.

“This technique could be applied in the moment by writing down the source of anger as if taking a memo and then throwing it away,” said Kawai.

Along with its practical benefits, this discovery may shed light on the origins of the Japanese cultural tradition known as hakidashisara ( hakidashi sara refers to a dish or plate) at the Hiyoshi shrine in Kiyosu, just outside Nagoya. Hakidashisara is an annual festival where people smash small discs representing things that make them angry. The study’s findings may explain the feeling of relief that participants report after leaving the festival, the paper concluded.

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6 in 10 U.S. Catholics are in favor of abortion rights, Pew Research report finds

Jason DeRose

Pope Francis remains popular among U.S. Catholics, with 75% having favorable views of him, according to a Pew Research report. But many self-identified Catholics disagree with various teachings of their church. Andrew Medichini/AP hide caption

Pope Francis remains popular among U.S. Catholics, with 75% having favorable views of him, according to a Pew Research report. But many self-identified Catholics disagree with various teachings of their church.

Catholics in the U.S., one of the country's largest single Christian groups, hold far more diverse views on abortion rights than the official teaching of their church.

While the Catholic Church itself holds that abortion is wrong and should not be legal, 6 in 10 U.S. adult Catholics say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to a newly released profile of Catholicism by Pew Research .

Catholic opinion about abortion rights, according to the report, tends to align with political leanings: Fewer Catholic Republicans favor legal abortion than Catholic Democrats. And Pew says Hispanic Catholics, who make up one-third of the U.S. church, are slightly more in favor of legal abortion than white Catholics.

Despite church prohibitions, Catholics still choose IVF to have children

Pew found that 20% of the U.S. population identifies as Catholic, but only about 3 in 10 say they attend mass regularly. Opinions about abortion rights appear to be related to how often someone worships — just 34% of Catholics who attend mass weekly say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, whereas that number jumps to 68% among those who attend mass monthly or less.

Most U.S. Catholics are white (57%), but that number has dropped by 8 percentage points since 2007, according the new report. About 33% identify as Hispanic, 4% Asian, 2% Black, and 3% describe themselves as another race.

Pew Research also found that as of February, Pope Francis remains highly popular, with 75% of U.S. Catholics rating him favorably. However, there is a partisan divide, with Catholic Democrats more strongly supporting him.

About 4 in 10 U.S. Catholics view Francis as a major agent of change, with 3 in 10 saying he is a minor agent of change.

Catholic Church works to explain what same-sex blessings are and are not

Pew reports that many U.S. Catholics would welcome more change. Some 83% say they want the church to allow the use of contraception, 69% say priests should be allowed to get married, 64% say women should be allowed to become priests, and 54% say the Catholic Church should recognize same-sex marriage.

In December 2023, the Vatican issued guidance to priests that they may bless people in same-sex relationships. But the church insists those blessings not be construed in any way to be a form of marriage or even take place as part of a worship service.

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LSU Civil, Environmental Engineering Researchers Study Coastal Wetland Root Dynamics

BATON ROUGE, LA – A team of LSU researchers led by LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor Navid Jafari (principal investigator) and LSU CEE Research Assistant Mohamed Hassan (co-PI) recently received a $50,000 National Science Foundation I-Corps grant to commercialize its algorithms in studying root productivity in Louisiana wetlands. A second grant was awarded by the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), which is part of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., that allows the team to use X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans to study these roots. 

“Coastal wetlands are valuable ecosystems that improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat and biodiversity, sequester carbon, and protect coastal communities from hurricanes by dampening waves, distancing urban centers from open water, and reducing storm surge heights,” Jafari said. “Understanding how coastal root productivity affects this is essential to preserving land.”

The NSF I-Corps focus of the project is based on the development of X-Roots technology, which utilizes advanced algorithms to analyze XCT, OCT, and SEM scans of belowground root systems. 

“The algorithms enable the segmentation and classification of wetland soil components, including macro-pores, dead roots, live roots, and sediments, with a high degree of precision,” Hassan said. “X-Roots expands understanding root systems and their impact of ecosystems. This, in turn, opens the door for innovation, conservation, and commercial growth in potentially multiple industries. By offering insights into wetland root systems, this technology may address pressing global challenges, such as climate change and land management in these critical environments.”

“Beyond applications in agriculture, forestry, environmental conservation, and land management, XCT technology has the potential to change how researchers understand and interact with belowground ecosystems, particularly in wetland ecosystems,” Hassan said.

The team will work with LSU’s Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization (ITC) on patenting their algorithms. 

About LSU ITC

LSU ITC protects and commercializes LSU’s intellectual property. The office focuses on transferring early-stage inventions and works into the marketplace for the greater benefit of society. ITC also handles federal invention reporting, which allows LSU to receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year in federally funded research, and processes confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements, and other agreements related to intellectual property. To learn more, contact Ted Griggs, assistant director of creative strategies, at 225-288-8840 or [email protected] .

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Contact: Libby Haydel Communications Manager 225-578-4840 [email protected]

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True crime podcasts are popular in the U.S., particularly among women and those with less formal education

True crime stands out as the most common topic of top-ranked podcasts in the United States, according to a new Pew Research Center study . So who, exactly, listens to true crime podcasts?

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to explore U.S. adults’ views of and experiences with podcasts as a part of the news and information landscape.

To examine the ways Americans get news and information in a digital age, the Center surveyed 5,132 U.S. adults from Dec. 5 to 11, 2022. Everyone who completed the survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the  ATP’s methodology .

In the questionnaire, U.S. adults who said they are currently listening to at least one podcast were asked in an open-ended question to write in the name of the podcast that they listen to most. If respondents answered with the names of more than one podcast, only the first one was coded. In total, 1,563 open-end responses were coded.

Here are  the questions used  in the survey, along with responses, and  its methodology .

As part of the study, the Center also took a close look at key characteristics of top-ranked podcasts. Researchers identified these top podcasts by analyzing daily lists of the top 200 podcasts on Apple Podcasts and Spotify from April 1 to Sept. 30, 2022. The average chart position of each podcast that appeared on either list was calculated, and the top 300 podcasts from each site were included as top podcasts. Researchers identified 451 top podcasts by combining these lists so that podcasts that were among the top 300 on both sites were not counted twice.

A team of trained researchers then analyzed these 451 podcasts to determine podcast affiliation, topic, format and other key characteristics of each podcast. Additional data on episode length and frequency was analyzed after collecting data on all episodes published in 2022 through the Spotify and Apple Podcasts application programming interface.

Here are the detailed tables for this analysis of 451 top-ranked podcasts, and the methodology .

Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. This is the latest analysis in Pew Research Center’s ongoing investigation of the state of news, information and journalism in the digital age, a research program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Overall, 34% of U.S. adults who have listened to a podcast in the past year say they regularly listen to podcasts about true crime, according to a 2022 Center survey . But some demographic groups are more likely than others to do so:

• Among U.S. podcast listeners, women are almost twice as likely as men to regularly listen to true crime podcasts (44% vs. 23%).
• Podcast listeners with less formal education are more likely than those with higher levels of education to listen to shows about true crime. Looking at podcast listeners who have a high school diploma or less, 45% regularly listen to true crime podcasts. A third of podcast listeners with some college education say the same, as do 27% of those who have at least a bachelor’s degree. This pattern persists even when accounting for age.
• While women are more likely to listen to true crime podcasts overall, women with lower levels of formal education are the most likely to do so. A majority (57%) of women with a high school diploma or less say they regularly listen to true crime podcasts, compared with 34% of men with the same education level and 36% of women with a college degree.
• Younger podcast listeners are more likely than the oldest listeners to report tuning in to shows about true crime. Among U.S. podcast listeners ages 18 to 29, 41% regularly listen to true crime podcasts. This compares with 15% of listeners ages 65 and older.

The Center’s new study finds that true crime is the most common topic among top-ranked podcasts – defined as those with the highest average daily rankings on Apple’s and Spotify’s lists of top podcasts in a six-month period in 2022. Almost a quarter (24%) of these top podcasts are primarily about true crime.

True crime podcasts are often investigations into murders, scandals and other criminal events. Serial, which helped to popularize the genre , is a series that provides in-depth investigations into particular crimes or events. Due to its popularity, Serial is often credited for drawing national attention to the conviction of Adnan Syed.

Other top-ranked podcasts in this genre include 20/20, Crime Junkie, Dateline NBC, and My Favorite Murder. Crime Junkie and Dateline NBC are among the most popular podcasts cited by podcast listeners who gave a name for the show they tune in to most – 1% named each of these podcasts.

While true crime is the most common topic among top-ranked podcasts, it is not the most popular topic Americans report listening to, according to the Center’s recent survey . About a third of podcast listeners in the United States (34%) say they regularly listen to podcasts about true crime.

Other topics – such as comedy (47%) and entertainment, pop culture and the arts (46%) – are more popular than true crime.

While the Center’s survey did not specifically ask why podcast listeners turn to specific topics such as true crime, we can look at the reasons that people said they listen to podcasts in general – and among those who said the podcast they listen to most is true crime.

Of those who said their main podcast is about true crime, the most common major reasons for listening were for entertainment (85%) and to have something to listen to while doing something else (84%). They were less likely to cite reasons like learning, hearing other people’s opinions, or staying up to date about current events.

Note: Here are the detailed tables for this analysis of 451 top-ranked podcasts, and the methodology . Here are the questions used for this analysis, and our survey methodology .

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Innovative growers: A view from the top

In this current era of competing priorities and endless disruption and uncertainty, we know that innovation remains a must-have , not just a nice-to-have, when capital is readily available. 1 Matt Banholzer, Michael Birshan, Rebecca Doherty, and Laura LaBerge, “ Innovation: Your solution for weathering uncertainty ,” McKinsey, January 10, 2023. We also know that making a conscious choice to grow  and supporting that choice with the right mindsets, development pathways, and capabilities can yield superior shareholder returns. 2 “ Choosing to grow: The leader’s blueprint ,” McKinsey, July 7, 2022. But what is the role of innovation in growth and vice versa?

Where do innovative growers come from?

To find out, we identified and analyzed about 650 of the largest public companies that achieved profitable growth relative to their industry between 2016 and 2021 while also excelling in the essential capabilities associated with innovation . 3 Our assessment is based on McKinsey’s proprietary database of about 12,000 companies and their relative mastery of capabilities along four innovation categories: aspire/choose, discover/evolve, accelerate/scale, and extend/mobilize. Using machine learning, natural-language processing, and sentiment analysis of employee reviews, we created a score that served as a reliable proxy for innovation capabilities across these categories. We then reviewed companies that grew faster than their industry while delivering positive economic profit between 2016 and 2021. Some of these companies outgrew their peers, others were more innovative than competitors, but 53 companies managed to do both. The 50-plus “innovative growers,” as we call them, are a diverse group, spread across four continents and ten industries. They include renowned brands with a trillion-dollar market capitalization as well as smaller companies that are just starting to make a name for themselves, some as young as three years old (see sidebar, “Where do innovative growers come from?”).

For all their diversity, these companies consistently excel in both growth and innovation—and they share a number of best practices that other companies can learn from.

Do innovative growers perform better than others?

In a word, yes.

Most of our innovative growers achieved total shareholder returns (TSR) above their industry median between 2012 and 2022 (Exhibit 1). The median excess annual shareholder return among these 50-plus companies was 11 points higher than that for Global 2000 companies. What’s more, two-thirds of the innovative growers were in the top quintile of the economic-profit power curve , which represents the distribution of economic profit among Global 2000 companies. 4 Chris Bradley, Martin Hirt, and Sven Smit, “ Strategy to beat the odds ,” McKinsey Quarterly , February 13, 2018. Their presence on the high end of the curve is not surprising: McKinsey research on the power curve points to the importance of making big innovative moves to beat the market, including programmatic M&A , dynamic reallocation of resources, and differentiating product and process improvements. In fact, the research suggests making no moves is a dangerous strategy—one that brings stagnation and underperformance.

What sets innovative growers apart?

The numbers speak for themselves, but when we examined how innovative growers were achieving such a high level of performance, we observed that all demonstrate a mastery of the eight essentials of innovation , which our past research  shows are correlated with strong financial performance.

Specifically, they build innovation into their overall strategy aspirations. They activate critical growth pathways within their core businesses and enter only those adjacent markets where they have the strongest competitive advantage . They pursue excellence in execution and invest in key innovation capabilities. And they use M&A, particularly programmatic M&A, to extend their innovation reach.

Aspire: Link innovation to growth aspirations

According to our research, innovative growers unfailingly put innovation at the center of strategic and financial discussions, thereby signaling its importance to the growth and health of the organization. For instance, our review of the innovative growers’ earnings calls reveals that they talk about innovation twice as much as their peers 5 We analyzed a lexicon of innovation keywords across earnings calls across our sample set and determined the relative frequency of usage and discussion of innovation topics versus the overall management discussion. and, in those conversations, emphasize innovation as a means to create profitable and sustainable growth . This is consistent with our previous research on “ courageous growers ” and the importance of cultivating an innovation mindset among employees. 6 “ Courageous growth: Six strategies for continuous growth outperformance ,” McKinsey, October 23, 2023. Innovative growers communicate to employees achievable aspirations and clear targets to reduce fears of failure, criticism, and negative career impact  that often hold back innovation. Innovative growers share frequent progress updates and success stories to inspire and motivate teams and investors. What’s more, innovative growers frequently voice their commitment to investing more resources in talent and digital capabilities, and they are almost three times more likely than their fast-growing but not innovative peers to frame their efforts as a “transformation.”

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High digital aspirations. Digital transformation was the impetus for innovation at one leading retailer among our innovative growers: the company sought to increase its online sales by introducing new features such as faster mobile checkout and an app with augmented reality built into it so customers could visualize how the retailer’s products might look in their homes. The CEO and other C-suite executives reinforced the importance of “transformation through innovation” in town hall meetings with employees, during earnings calls, in public interviews, and in press releases. The leaders’ words and investments sent a clear message to customers, employees, and other stakeholders about the importance of innovation in the retailer’s ability to transform and grow. And the efforts paid off: over time, as the new features were launched, the company’s online sales grew 80 percent, with digital sales accounting for 60 percent of overall revenue.

Activate: Pursue multiple pathways to growth

Our research shows that innovative growers deliver market-leading revenue growth in both their core businesses and when entering adjacent customer segments, industries, or geographies. In their core businesses, for instance, innovative growers tend to generate twice as much excess growth, even relative to other companies that outperform on growth. And when diversifying into adjacent segments, innovative growers achieve at least double the revenue growth compared with other firms (Exhibit 2).

They do this by entering adjacent business areas  where they can connect to one or more clear opportunities to create value, such as customer-driven growth, capability-driven growth, value chain–driven growth, or business model innovation in areas such as digital and sustainability. For instance, a recent McKinsey analysis  shows that chemical players with low-carbon product portfolios or high exposure to end markets supporting sustainability grew their shareholder returns at more than double the rate of sustainability laggards between 2016 and 2021. 7 “ The triple play: Growth, profit, and sustainability ,” McKinsey, August 9, 2023.

In fact, our data indicate that innovative growers combine two or more of the previously mentioned value propositions in more than 70 percent of the adjacencies they enter (compared with less than 25 percent among peers). They seem to prioritize growth in those adjacencies where there is some similarity among portfolios and an obvious “right to win.” And make no mistake, portfolio similarity matters: consider General Mills’ purchase of Pillsbury, a company that shared many of the same competencies and assets. This move allowed General Mills to reduce its purchasing, manufacturing, and distribution costs and raise its operating profit by about 70 percent. 8 Chris Bradley, Rebecca Doherty, Nicholas Northcote, and Tido Röder, “ The ten rules of growth ,” McKinsey, August 12, 2022.

Additionally, innovative growers are using advanced analytics and other digital tools to identify hidden growth opportunities, and then they are going through a rigorous process of selecting the just-right operating model and governance structure for the new business and appointing senior leaders with the competencies most needed in the new business. 9 Chris Bradley, Rebecca Doherty, Anna Koivuniemi, and Nicholas Northcote, “ Igniting your next growth business ,” McKinsey, July 23, 2021.

Game, set, and match. A leading technology company with deep expertise in hardware design, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing acquired a gaming company with the goal of using its own capabilities to improve the gaming company’s offerings. The pathway to growth here was relatively clear and unencumbered; although they were in slightly different segments of the technology market, the companies boasted similar product portfolios, and once the technical capabilities were integrated, the joint venture was able to go to market with several special releases of legacy games and one-off “special event” gaming offerings, all of which were well received.

Execute: Invest productively in all innovation capabilities

Our research shows that innovative growers invest productively in a range of critical innovation capabilities—including R&D, resourcing, and operational agility—leading to strong business outcomes. In fact, they delivered more than five points of additional excess gross margin versus other Global 2000 firms, which is a key indicator of product differentiation . 10 “ Strategy to beat the odds ,” February 2018.

R&D. Innovative growers tend to deliver more tangible outcomes from their R&D investments than their peers. In our research, they generated, on average, 100-plus more patents than their peers but also delivered more strong patents—or patents with broad applicability and lots of citations to other patents. In fact, over the past two decades, innovative growers were awarded three times as many strong patents compared with industry peers (Exhibit 3). And the presence of strong patents often indicates higher value creation potential.

Resourcing and operations. Innovative growers are also more likely than peers to have adopted agile operating models and implemented rigorous and dynamic resource allocation processes. They also tend to invest more in digital and analytics and other new technologies compared with peers: our research shows innovative growers have 30 percent more digital and analytics personnel on staff compared with industry peers. And in McKinsey’s recent digital strategy survey of more than 1,000 companies, there was a clear link between organizations with strong innovation cultures and operating models and their ability to increase value through new technologies, including generative AI. 11 Matt Banholzer, Ben Fletcher, Laura LaBerge, and Jon McClain, “ Companies with innovative cultures have a big edge with generative AI ,” McKinsey, August 31, 2023. Even in the current uncertain business climate, almost 90 percent of the survey respondents said they are still looking for new growth. Over the past two years, they have been allocating resources to a range of growth pathways—expanding the core, innovating in adjacent areas, or igniting breakout businesses (Exhibit 4). 12 “ Companies with innovative cultures have a big edge with generative AI ,” August 31, 2023.

Smart resourcing, smart growth. Combining strong innovation capabilities with appropriate levels of resourcing can result in significant value creation opportunities. Senior management at one medical-technology company wanted to build a new line of surgical robotics offerings and, to that end, increased the amount of resources allocated to the company’s R&D function. Over time, that R&D team generated a flood of new patents, averaging about 750 more patents than its medtech peers and delivering one and a half times the total shareholder return. Similarly, a global technology company invested upward of $3 billion to adapt its existing hardware products to support applications in the fast-growing AI and data-processing spaces, more than tripling its annual capital expenditure between 2017 and 2022. This bold move has resulted in 20 percent annual revenue growth at the company over the past five years.

Extend: Cultivate a strong M&A capability

In our experience, innovative growers also distinguish themselves through their dealmaking—and specifically, in their ability to cultivate a strong M&A capability (alongside strong capabilities in R&D, finance, operations). To be clear, there are many “nondigital” technologies (new molecules, for instance). However, looking at digital M&A provides one illustrative lens. For instance, our research shows that innovative growers complete three times more digital M&A deals 13 Digital M&A deals are those that target assets or capabilities in the digital, analytics, or technology spaces. compared with peers, demonstrating a desire to acquire promising technical capabilities and intellectual property (IP) and a willingness to embrace new technologies and methods to stay ahead of the competition. 14 “ Are you chasing the right digital assets? ,” McKinsey, December 22, 2021. Additionally, innovative growers routinely define their growth and M&A objectives up front , and leaders come to a shared understanding of the types of deals they want to target, which allows innovative growers to act with speed and purpose when M&A opportunities come up. What’s more, innovative growers are 50 percent more likely than peers to follow a programmatic approach to M&A, 15 A programmatic approach to M&A involves creating value by choreographing a series of deals (two or more) around a specific business case or M&A theme rather than pursuing singular “big bang” transactions. which McKinsey has repeatedly reaffirmed is far more likely than other M&A approaches to lead to stronger performance and less risk. 16 “ How one approach to M&A is more likely to create value than all others ,” McKinsey Quarterly , October 13, 2021.

Forging an ecosystem through programmatic M&A. One technology company pursued a series of midsize acquisitions to bolster its product offerings and exploit cross-product synergies to create an ecosystem for “home security” products. Over a two-year period, the company acquired a wireless security camera player, a home security company, and a DIY home security system provider. These acquisitions came with associated patents, such as the smart doorbell, and allowed the company to expand its reach and to innovate new products (combining the acquired IP with the company’s own hardware and software products).

Innovative growers are delivering profitable growth relative to their industry while also excelling in the essential capabilities associated with innovation. Our research reveals the degree to which their focus on both is helping these organizations create lasting value. It also suggests that other companies, too, can join this small but diverse set of outperformers by putting innovation at the center of all decision making and supporting it with the right mindsets, pursuing multiple pathways to growth and innovation, and establishing the right capabilities across R&D, digital, analytics, and M&A.

The path may be steep, and the transformation will likely take time and dedicated management attention, but the companies that seek to emulate the innovative growers may eventually achieve a profitable balance between today’s growth objectives and tomorrow’s innovation potential.

Matt Banholzer is a partner in McKinsey’s Chicago office, Rebecca Doherty is a partner in the Bay Area office, Alex Morris is a partner in the Toronto office, and Scott Schwaitzberg is an associate partner in the New York office.

The authors wish to thank Guillermo Domínguez, Gopal Galgali, Brooke Harvey, Tim Koller, Laura LaBerge, Karin Löffler, Karthik Ramesh, Werner Rehm, Tido Röder, Erik Roth, Eshita Sangal, and Jill Zucker for their contributions to this article.

This article was edited by Roberta Fusaro, an editorial director in the Waltham, Massachusetts, office.

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